Rangers-Hurricanes: Carolina Wins Lucky Seventh In A Row

Martin AveryApr 2, 2009

Chad LaRose led the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday. The Montreal Canadiens picked up two points, beating the New York Islanders.

The Hurricanes jumped over the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins into the fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Instead of moving up into a tie with the Hurricanes, the Rangers fell behind the Canadiens into the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canes set a franchise record with their tenth win in a row at home.

Eric Staal scored on the power play to put the Carolina Hurricanes ahead 1-0. The Rangers had killed twenty-five penalties in a row until that goal.

Cory Potter got his first NHL goal to tie the game at 17:30, assisted by Paul Mara and Ryan Callahan, but with Avery on top Cam Ward. The Canes hit the goal post and scored moments later to make it 2-1 when Cam LaRose got a goal assisted by Eric Stall and Ray Whitney.

The Rangers hit the post seconds after that goal. With five minutes left in the second period, Dan Girardi got his first goal in 54 games when the Rangers finally scored on their sixth power play.

The Canes got two quick goals, half a minute apart, by LaRose and Rob Brind'Amour, at the 12:25 and 12:53 marks. The Rangers appeared to dominate the Hurricane from the first shirt of the period and out-shot them but the Canes won the game in the final period.

The Hurricanes have had just six sell-outs this season and this was one of them.

The New York Rangers are now 40-29-9 and the Carolina Hurricanes are 43-28-7. Carolina's turnaround under coach Paul Maurice continues. The Canes are now 31-17-5 under Maurice and they are 16-4-2 since the middle of February.

The last time these two met, the Hurricane shut out the Rangers, 3-0, and ended a three game win streak. The Hurricanes' current seven game winning streak is their season-high.

Both team's next matchups are on Saturday. The Rangers take on the Boston Bruins while the Hurricanes take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.