Rangers Eliminate Hurricanes as Chris Kreider's 3rd-Period Hat Trick Stuns NHL Fans

Chris Kreider sent the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final with a third-period natural hat trick Thursday night.

Kreider scored three times in nine minutes to erase the Carolina Hurricanes' third-period Game 6 lead and push the Rangers to a 5-3 elimination victory.

New York won the second-round series 4-2.

Kreider joins Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier as the third player in Rangers franchise history to score a third-period postseason hat trick.

The Hurricanes threatened to send the series to Game 7 as Carolina headed into the third period with a two-goal lead.

Kreider launched the Rangers' comeback by beating Canes goaltender Frederik Andersen on a backhander to slice the home team's lead in half with 13 minutes remaining.

He tied the game on a power-play goal five minutes later.

After Kreider put the Blueshirts in front with his hat-trick goal, Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stood tall to preserve the lead.

The Rangers advance to face the winner of the ongoing conference semifinals series between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins.

The Panthers lead the series 3-2 and could win a ticket to the conference final with a Game 6 win Thursday at TD Garden. Fans across New York will be watching when the puck drops in Boston at 7 p.m.