Brady Skjei’s late power play goal proved crucial for the Carolina Hurricanes, securing a 4-3 victory against the New York Rangers and staving off a sweep in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series. With just over three minutes remaining, Skjei scored off a pass from Tuevo Teravainen, breaking a power-play drought for Carolina, who had missed on their previous 16 attempts in the series. This timely goal not only broke their power play slump but also ensured the Hurricanes remained in the fight for the NHL playoffs.
Despite letting a two-goal lead slip earlier in the match, Skjei’s goal was the decisive factor that kept Carolina’s playoff hopes alive. The win means the Hurricanes have forced at least one more game in the series, now trailing 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
In addition to Skjei’s game-winner, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Stefan Noesen, and Sebastian Aho also found the back of the net for the Hurricanes, giving them a strong start and early momentum. Frederik Andersen played a vital role in goal, stopping 22 shots, as the team aims to become the fifth in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, a comeback last seen in 2014.
For the Rangers, Will Cuylle, Barclay Goodrow, and Alexis Lafreniere each scored, while Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves in an effort that fell just short. Despite this setback, New York still holds a commanding lead in the series as they prepare for the next game.