Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers secure spot in Eastern Conference Finals with dominant Game 7 win

RALEIGH, N.C. — The New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 7 on Monday night, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves for this second win in a Game 7 during the playoffs. Forward Chris Kreider scored twice, while defenseman Adam Fox, center Ryan Strome, center Filip Chytil and forward Andrew Copp added goals.

It's the first trip to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the Rangers since 2015, when they, too, faced the Lightning.

The Eastern Conference Finals begin on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. They won all three meetings with the Lightning in the regular season, with Shesterkin in goal for each victory.

Game 7 ended a 13-game playoff streak for the Carolina Hurricanes in which the home team won every game. It also marked the first time an opponent scored more than two goals in a game at PNC Arena.

Fox gave the Rangers the early 1-0 lead, as New York's power play scored for the fifth straight game. New York earned the power play after goalie Antti Raanta turned the puck over deep in his zone, leading to a Sebastian Aho hooking penalty. The Hurricanes had killed off most of that man-advantage when Fox jumped off the Rangers bench. The Carolina penalty kill didn't pick him up. That allowed Fox to skate in, shoot the puck and beat Raanta glove side for the 1-0 advantage just 3:40 into the game.

Carolina had a power play after that, failing to convert. The Hurricanes then took a bench minor for too many men on the ice at 7:46 of the first period as an injured Seth Jarvis couldn't leave the ice before a sixth skater hopped on — the result of another crushing hit from Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba in the series. Kreider