Rangers Force Game 7 with Another Home Victory

The stage was set for Game 6 between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers. Primetime Saturday night, Madison Square Garden, New York City, elimination game. Win or go home for the home team.

Both the Rangers and Canes have been excellent on home ice this playoffs. The Rangers are 5-1 and Carolina is undefeated at 7-0. Facing elimination, the Blueshirts hoped to continue this tread of home-ice dominance.

The Rangers welcomed the return of a heart and soul player to their lineup. Barclay Goodrow, who has been out of the lineup since Game 1 of their first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, started on a line with Tyler Motte and Ryan Reaves.

It did not take long for Goodrow's line to be effective. Motte scored on a simple wrist shot around defenseman Brady Skjei to get the scoring going.

Next, on the power play Mika Zibanejad throws a seemingly simple shot on net and Antti Raanta allowed the puck to sneak five hole.

The "kid line" wanted to get involved behind the energy from the Rangers' faithful. Filip Chytil notched another tally early in the second to give his team a commanding 3-0 lead.

Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour opted to make a goaltending change following Chytil's goal. He turned to rookie netminder, Pytor Kochetkov, who saw his first playoff action following a Raanta injury in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins.

Carolina started to show some life when Skjei broke Igor Shesterkin's shutout with a wrist shot from the point.

Chytil scored his second of the night off a perfect backhander. Shesterkin tallied his second assist of the night on the youngster's goal.

Vincent Trochek scored the Canes' second goal of the night.

Shesterkin wanted to make his presence felt more than a bunch of saves and two assists. He threw a hit on Canes' rookie Seth Jarvis, interfering with the forward making his way behind the net. Shesterkin was called for interference on the play.

Artemi Panarin provided a bit more cushion to the Rangers lead halfway through the third with a 5-on-3 power play goal.

Losing badly in the third period, Tony DeAngelo decided to stir the pot a bit by flipping the puck into the Rangers' net following a whistle.

Shesterkin and Chytil were brillant for the Rangers in another elimination game. Shesterkin had saves for save percentage. He added two assists and a penalty to boot. Chytil scored two monstrous goals early in the game and the Rangers never looked back.

The home team continues to win every game this series. The Rangers look to change that in a winner-take-all Game 7 Monday night in Raleigh. The Canes hope to stay perfect at home.

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