Rangers advance with convincing Game 7 win vs. Hurricanes

The good news for the Carolina Hurricanes: no more of that home/road talk. The bad news: it’s because the Rangers just eliminated them from the playoffs, in Carolina, beating the Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 7.

With that result, the Rangers face a well-rested Tampa Bay Lightning team in the 2022 Eastern Conference Final. Game 1 (8 p.m. ET) will take place at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

Over their previous seven home playoff games, Carolina gave up just eight goals. In Game 7 against the Rangers, the Hurricanes yielded six. (Take out the empty-netter, and it remains stunning.)

Igor Shesterkin didn’t get a shutout, yet he was a huge difference-maker early on, never really letting the Canes in this one.

The Rangers handed the Hurricanes their first Game 7 loss since moving to North Carolina. Previously, the Hurricanes won their last six Game 7s; the Rangers have now won eight of their last nine Game 7s.

Many of the wrong type of patterns ended for the Canes.

They were the first team in NHL postseason history to begin the playoffs with the home team winning the first 13 playoff games. At the most inopportune time, that run ended.

Speaking of patterns not breaking the Hurricanes’ way in Game 7, the Rangers continue to be a devil to eliminate. New York rallied from a 3-1 series deficit against the Penguins in the First Round, and were down 3-2 to Carolina in this series.

Sometimes, you’re lucky to get a power play or two for an entire Game 7. You know, when officials “let them play” (*whispers* let them cheat).

Game 7 of Hurricanes – Rangers did not begin that way. Both teams received two power-play opportunities, and each enjoyed very different results.

Continuing talk of patterns maintaining mainly when it was bad for the