The Rangers Road To The Stanley Cup has been repaved with high-speed routes to both Florida and Massachusetts ready to be used. Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances Annoying potholes created by the Carolina Hurricanes have been smoothed over with Chris Kreider and Igor Shesterkin in the driver's seats. Kreider's third period natural hat trick which expelled the Canes last night 5-3 in Raleigh will be talked about for decades for its stunning rapidity and decisiveness. "Between the second and third period Chris told me he felt as if he could get one," said Barclay Goodrow, "but he didn't say three." Nor – in the post-game scrums – did Kreider even harp on his third – winning – goal but rather how his mates transformed from two-period stumblers to super heroes who turned PNC Arena into a hockey morgue. "We raised our level," said Chris in the understatement of the half-century, "and started to get pucks to the net. And I tried to be there." [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucV-pdX15h4[/embed] (He also could have said, "If at first you do succeed, try, try again." Which he did.) Coach Peter Laviolette, who had every right to send S.O.S. flares up after his club appeared to be sinking again, labeling Kreider's performance with the term "monstrous." He could have – should have – distributed the same encomiums in the direction of his Russian goalkeeper. Shesterkin's 33 saves included two contest-preservers in the third period against Jordan Staal and Sibby Aho. Carolina's Fred (Call Me Sieve) Andersen stopped 19 New York shots. But Prince Igor did get help from his friends. Apart from Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Breadman Panarin and Vincent Trocheck were key helpers. "But," noted Mister Bread, "Kreider was the one who woke us up." Up until the final frame, the game belonged to Rod Brind'Amour's team. As expected, they came out with howitzers blazing. They not only fired three pucks past Shesty but "beat" him on a few goal post pingers. Meanwhile New York's defenders were losing puck battles galore when they were not clearing rebounds. Still, with a 3-1 lead entering the third period there were no signs of a turnabout; except in the Rangers room. "Then," said captain Jacob Trouba, "Kreider took over the game." Trocheck: "We were down on ourselves and it was clear that we needed our big players to come up big. In this case Chris was clutch." [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4nNHA4jdEU[/embed] Once the Rangers took the lead in the third, they turned even more aggressive on the attack. Pulling the goalie near the end, hardly ruffled the President's Trophy-winners. But just to be sure, Barclay Goodrow hit the open net and the PNC morgue emptied. Meanwhile, Rangerville celebrated another playoff series and many of its loyal citizens will be singing this cockeyed series' praises forever. Or, as one Blueshirt rooter quipped, "You have to be good to be lucky – and lucky to be good." The NHL's regular season leaders now have won eight games and two playoff series. The Maven says, "Never mind the 'good' – all things considered – this is VERY GOOD!
