Play In Game 2 Review: Hurricanes clearly the better team as Rangers in 0-2 hole

The Carolina Hurricanes are showing exactly why they went to the Conference Finals last season. They have completely stifled the NY Rangers for a second straight game, and now have a strangle-hold 2-0 lead on this best-of-five series. The Rangers couldn’t get anything going at all, and the Canes capitalized on their chances. The Hurricanes are just a better team, and one that is built to make a run.

• That’s a stupid penalty by Pavel Buchnevich to start things off.
• Steven Fogarty was drafted 9 years ago. We are old.
• That’s not a good goal for Hank to give up. It’s also not a good pass for DeAngelo to give up.
• Man what a save by Mrazek on Howden. That’s a big one for the Canes.
• Need to score on this 5 on 3.
• And they do!
• What a pass by Tony D on that. He giveth, he taketh. That was a pair of cross-ice passes for a goalie that isn’t good laterally.
• Wow Hank just bailed out Smith on that fanned pass.
• Overall a better first period than any period we saw in Game 1. But the turnovers need to stop.
• Stop taking penalties. Seriously.
• And a bad turnover and a whiff and it’s 3-1. It’s put up or shut up time for the Rangers.
• When Ryan Lindgren is your best defenseman, it’s bad. Good for him, he’s looked good. But bad for the Rangers.
• Ok I missed a good portion of the last 10 minutes or so because I am trying to balance watching the game, writing this, writing the goal breakdown, and helping the wife babysit 2 nieces and a nephew.
• Amazing to think that the Rangers lost Lindy Ruff and then the offense went to hell. Coincidence? I think not!
• One of our keys to win was the top-six scoring. Right now, they have one goal from Zibanejad and one from Panarin. In 5 periods. That won’t cut it.
• Ok after a well timed McDonald’s trip, the kids are fed and I only missed 2 minutes of the 3rd period.
• They need a goal on this PP.
• Carolina is just the better team. The Rangers can’t get anything going at all.
• Of course it doesn’t help that the Rangers are either invisible or bad, save for a few players.
• Where is Chris Kreider? Adam Fox?
• That’s the hat trick for Svechnikov and the dagger in this one.
• Again, the best players on Carolina were better than the best players on the Rangers.
• At least the effort was better.
• One goal in each of the first two games won’t get it done.

Game 3 is tomorrow at 8pm. They need to change something up, and fast.