Rangers put ’Canes’ celebration on ice
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RALEIGH — Adam Fox ended a 24-game stretch without a goal and the Rangers overcame the Hurricanes for a 2-1 victory Thursday night.
Fox scored at 4:01 of the third period and the Rangers forged a split of a two-game set this week among Metropolitan Division contenders.
Artemi Panarin also scored and assisted on the goal-ahead goal. Mika Zibanejad recorded two assists for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots.
Sebastian Aho scored Carolina’s goal and Frederik Anderson stopped 14 shots. The Hurricanes could have clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot with a victory, but they’ll have plenty more chances as this was the beginning of a four-game homestand.
The Rangers recorded points in eight of their last nine games (7-1-1).
The Hurricanes scored three third-period goals to rally for Tuesday night’s 3-2 victory at Madison Square Garden. Fox gave the Rangers their first lead Thursday night with his 11th goal of the season. Panarin’s pass set up the goal.
The Rangers didn’t have a shot on goal until nearly 11 minutes into the game. That attempt came during a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:49 and resulted in Carolina fans roaring at a playoff-like volume.
Aho’s team-high 31st goal came at 16:47 of the first period.
Panarin tied it at 10:33 of the second on just the eighth shot of the game for the Rangers.
Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren was out of the lineup. He returned from an 11-game absence with an upper-body injury to play Tuesday night.
Carolina’s first-period penalty kill marked its longest with a two-man disadvantage in 6½ years.