RALEIGH, N.C. — Minutes after his team’s season ended, University of Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed displeasure with the call that led to the tying goal in the Rangers’ come-from-behind victory Thursday night.
Jordan Staal’s cross-check on Mika Zibanejad at 10:58 of the third (one of only three penalties called in the game) gave the Rangers a power play, leading them to a 5-on-4 nine. He succeeded in converting after his first try. Chris Kreider scored his second of three goals of the night to tie the score at 3-3.
The Rangers won 5-3, ending the second round series in six games and denying the Hurricanes a chance for a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.
“I don’t know if it’s a cross-check or not,” Brind’Amour said. “He pushed him into the board. We’re at that stage and there’s a lot of additions to make sure we get the call.
“We have to score penalties. They’re talented. That one. [Kreider] It just popped into my head. That’s a great tip. We have to give them credit. ”
The diving insinuation is especially ironic considering the Hurricanes were widely criticized for something similar during their first-round win over the Islanders.
Throughout the series, Carolina was underachieving on the penalty kill despite being solid after Game 2.
The Rangers’ power play success was the main reason they won the first two games, and it played a key role Thursday.
Blake Wheeler, who hung up his red non-contact jersey this week, was officially placed on long-term injured reserve on Thursday, according to NHL media sites.
Wheeler was sidelined for the remainder of the regular season the day after a hit by Montreal’s Jaden Struble left him with a crooked leg on February 15th, but he returned to practice with the team on May 6th. did.
Filip Sittil participated in the Rangers’ optional morning skate but was not suited for the third straight game.
Sitil, who made an unexpected return to the lineup in Game 3 after a six-month recovery from a suspected concussion, was unable to skate two days later due to what the team described as an “illness.”
He missed Game 4, but returned to practice in Game 5 before being sidelined again due to “soreness.”
The Rangers have not yet released Sitil to the media.
The Rangers returned to the defensive combination they used for most of the regular season.
Captain Jacob Trouba returns to the right of Quandre Miller and Braden Schneider lines up with Erik Gustafsson.
The pair of Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox remained.
