Rangers score quickly in overtime to take 3-0 series lead on Carolina

Artemi Panarin redirected a pass between his legs at the crease to beat Pyotr Kochetkov just 1:43 into overtime and the New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the second-round playoff series.

Panarin scored after Carolina defenceman Dmitry Orlov lost control of a puck in the corner in the defensive zone. Vincent Trocheck collected it on the right side and sent it toward the crease to Panarin, who tipped the puck behind him as defenseman Jalen Chatfield tried to push him away from the crease.

The puck slipped under the right elbow and past the ribs of Kochetkov, sending Panarin into celebration and the Rangers soon joining him near the door toward the tunnel off the ice.

The Rangers can complete the sweep in Game 4 on Saturday.

Chris Kreider and Alexis LaFreniere also scored goals for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin made 45 saves.

Jake Guentzel had a first-period goal for Carolina, while Andrei Svechnikov tied it with 1:36 left to force the overtime and send a jolt through the home crowd.

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour announced the decision to use Kochetkov in net roughly seven hours before puck drop, citing Frederik Andersen’s workload as the reason for the move.

“Freddy’s played really well, but he’s also played a lot,” Brind’Amour said. “I think giving him a little rest is the best thing.”

MAPLE LEAFS FIRE KEEFE

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Sheldon Keefe on Thursday following the Original Six franchise’s loss to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

General manager Brad Treliving called it a “difficult” decision to move on.

“Sheldon is an excellent coach and a great man,” he said in a statement. “However, we determined a new voice is needed to help the team push through to reach our ultimate goal.”

The organization added the search for a replacement has already begun and that decisions regarding the remainder of the coaching staff would follow.

Keefe said in a video posted to the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, hours after the announcement that he would be “forever grateful” for the opportunity to coach the Leafs.

“I didn’t get it done in the playoffs,” he said in a clip that ran roughly two minutes. “I didn’t help push our team over the line and deliver.

“I accept responsibility for that.” Keefe put up a combined 21297-40 record over parts of five campaigns in Toronto, but was just 16-21 in the post-season, including a 1-5 series mark.

DRAISAITL ‘DAY-TO-DAY’

Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl is “day-to-day” with an undisclosed injury, says head coach Kris Knoblauch.

Knoblauch says the Oilers coaching staff will decide Friday morning whether the 28-year-old German forward plays that evening in Game 2 of Edmonton’s series with the Vancouver Canucks.

Draisaitl missed practice Thursday and appeared to be labouring late in Edmonton’s 5-4 loss to the Vancouver in Game 1 of their second-round series Wednesday.

Knoblauch said after the game that Draisaitl was dealing with “cramping and equipment issues” that kept him off the ice.

Oilers forward Adam Henrique practised with the team Thursday after missing Game 1 because of an ankle injury.