Game 2 Recap: Svechnikov Nets Hat Trick to Lead Canes Past Rangers

TORONTO - Led by Andrei Svechnikov's first career hat trick and first hat trick in franchise postseason history, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Rangers, 4-1, in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

Sebastian Aho recorded an assist on each of Svechnikov's three goals, and Petr Mrazek made 23 saves, as the Canes recorded their 69th postseason victory in franchise history to move within a win of advancing to the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Here are five takeaways from Game 2.

1. Special Svech

Canes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said he knew Andrei Svechnikov was special the first time he met him.

"He's genuine, and he's a great person," Brind'Amour said. "He's a special kid, and he's just getting better and better. We're really fortunate to have him."

Really fortunate indeed, thanks to the lottery ball combination of 14, 5, 1, 2 that won the Canes the second overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Since then, Svechnikov has dazzled with his skillset. In the shortened 2019-20 season alone, he scored two lacrosse-style goals, a feat that had never before been pulled off in the NHL.

In Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, the 20-year-old Svechnikov netted the first hat trick of his career and the first hat trick in the franchise's 144-game postseason history.

"He's special. Everything he does, you just sit back and go, 'Wow,'" Jordan Martinook said after the game. "What are you, 19, 20? 20? At 20, scoring a hat trick in the playoffs, that's pretty special. I couldn't be more proud of Svech."

Svechnikov now has nine points (6g, 3a) through 11 career postseason games and joins Kevin Dineen (4), Eric Staal (3), Ray Whitney (3) and Brind'Amour (2) as the fifth player in franchise history to record at least two career multi-goal games in the postseason.

"He's built like an ox. He can skate and shoot, and he does everything fast. He thinks the game well," Martinook paused and smiled. "I'm pumping his tires pretty good right now."

"Thanks, brother," Svechnikov responded.

2. One, Two, Three

Svechnikov scored his first goal of the day in transition, snapping a shot that slid through Henrik Lundqvist's right blocker arm at the 4:32 mark of the first period.

In the second minute of the second period, Aho won the first faceoff of the power play cleanly back to Sami Vatanen. The Canes' defenseman settled the puck and set up Svechnikov for a one-timer from the top of the right circle, a shot that blistered to the back of the net and put the Canes back on top, 2-1.

With about six minutes left in regulation, Svechnikov finished off his hat trick again in transition. Aho stripped Ryan Strome of a bouncing puck at the blue line and raced down the ice on an odd-man rush. "Fishy!" Svechnikov hollered for a pass, and Aho slid the puck on his backhand over to Svechnikov, who roofed a shot over Lundqvist's diving save attempt.

"I'm excited to score my first hat trick, especially on a superstar goalie," Svechnikov said. "I wouldn't do that without my partners. Thanks for that. I think we played a really great game."

There were no fans in the arena to shower the ice with hats, but maybe next time - because there will be a next time.

"I think he'll get a few more before time's over in his career," Brind'Amour said. "He's a gamer."

It's worth noting, too, that Aho recorded assists, including two primary helpers, on all three of Svechnikov's goals. He now has 17 points (6g, 11a) in as many career postseason games.

"He's definitely matured as a hockey player. He's understanding what he has to do for our team to be successful," Brind'Amour said. "We're fortunate to have guys who put the team first. He's definitely doing that. He's playing a team game. He's got all the talent in the world, and you can see that in some of the plays he makes."

3. Mrazzle Dazzle

A little over eight minutes into the game, former Hurricane Greg McKegg wheeled around behind Petr Mrazek's cage. He then tossed a backhand pass into the slot, right on the stick of Brett Howden, who had a glorious, quality scoring chance at point-blank range.

Enter Mrazek, whose glove was in perfect position to snare Howden's shot, with a little windmill finish to top it off, one of his best stops of the day.

"I think it set the tone for myself today," Mrazek said of the save.

The Canes' netminder finished the afternoon with 23 saves on 24 shots. Through two qualifying round games, Mrazek is rocking a 1.50 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage.

"You've got to give Petr a lot of credit," Brind'Amour said. "He made some real big saves to allow us to kind of get in the game. He was huge for us."

4. Grit and Grind

The Canes' fourth line of Brock McGinn, Morgan Geekie and Martinook is the perfect blend of grit and skill. Martinook plays an energy game, and he scored a career-high 15 goals a season ago. Geekie has a nose for the net and netted three goals in his first two NHL games in March. McGinn embodies Brind'Amour's grit and grind mantra in the way he plays.

All three linked up early in the second period to extend the Canes' lead to two goals, just 71 seconds after Svechnikov tallied his second of the game.

Brady Skjei started the scoring play, scooping a clearing attempt out of the air at the blue line. McGinn absorbed a hit along the near boards to chip the puck down the wall to Geekie, who then tried to lay off a pass to Martinook. Geekie instead located the loose biscuit and smacked a backhand attempt on Lundqvist. The puck popped back out to Geekie, who backhanded a feed over to Martinook for the chip shot over Lundqvist and in.

"He's poised, he holds onto pucks and he works," Martinook said of Geekie. "He's a good compliment to me and Brock. He kind of knows that me and Brock are going to go in and try to get pucks back for him. He'll hold onto it and make plays."

5. Frustrating the Rangers

As the game wore on, the Canes forecheck remained relentless, and as they found their discipline, the Rangers came off theirs, clearly frustrated at how the first two games of this series had played out. Tony DeAngelo and Martinook dropped the gloves off a faceoff late in regulation, though neither were given majors. Instead, DeAngelo ended up with an extra roughing minor.

That's the kind of afternoon it was - again - for the Rangers in Game 2.

"We have four lines that aren't afraid to go out and work hard," Martinook said. "We know the type of game we need to play, and I feel like we've done that pretty well for the first two games."

New York now faces the tall task of working out of a two-game deficit in a best-of-five series, something only accomplished once in 56 such NHL postseason series.

Up Next

The Canes can close out their qualifying round series in Game 3 on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

"The games come fast and furious, but everyone is in the same boat as us, and guys love to play, so this is good," Brind'Amour said.