Recap: Cole Plays Overtime Hero, Canes Take Game One

RALEIGH, NC. -Veteran defenseman Ian Cole scored the game-winning goal in overtime Wednesday night, giving the Carolina Hurricanes a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers to kick off their Round Two series.

Three Things

1) Just Find A Way
After struggling to find their game offensively through the first 40 minutes, Rod Brind'Amour shuffled his deck for the third period. Amassing just 14 shots through two periods, the Canes head coach mixed personnel on three of his four lines, resulting in an instantaneous spark for the home side.
Surging all period long, Carolina started to get their chances over the course of the final 20. However, after Nino Niederreiter hit the crossbar on a breakaway, and then Sebastian Aho found the same result moments later, it felt as if Wednesday just might not be the night for Carolina.
Instead, 24 seconds after ringing iron, #20 stuffed home a second chance effort after a feed from Seth Jarvis to tie the game.
The PNC Arena crowd erupted into a frenzy and with just 2:23 to go in regulation the game was then pushed to overtime.
Controlling possession throughout, having a 10-4 shots advantage over the final period and all the momentum going into the extra frame, the Canes agenda to start OT was very clear - keep the foot on the gas.
All it took was just one elongated sequence of hemming New York in their own end and just 3:17 in Ian Cole floated a relatively harmless shot toward Shesterkin's crease. The puck deflected off of Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren's stick and in, giving the Canes the first game of the series.

2) Another Outstanding Raanta Outing
New York earned the first goal of the night 7:07 in after a Tony DeAngelo turnover, but that turned out to be the only one they would get all evening.
Before that was the case though, they had threatening chance after chance, with Carolina relying on their netminder to keep the damage from getting worse.
In the end, Antti Raanta finished with 27 saves on 28 shots, his fourth victory of this postseason that came in the fashion of allowing two goals or fewer.
3) Let's Not Wait So Long Next Time
Albeit they got it done in the end, it was very evident that the effort provided by Carolina through the opening pair of periods was not going to win them the game.
Rod Brind'Amour cited making smarter decisions with the puck as something he'd like to see different, but he was also quick to credit New York for the things they were doing to make life difficult for Carolina from the start.
The Rangers had almost completely taken away the Canes ability to use their defense for offense, an attack of which we frequently have seen from them over the course of the season. The commonplace attempts of tips, redirections and rebounds was sniffed out, so the crew will have to get creative with their offense ahead of Friday's Game Two.

What They Said About It

Rod Brind'Amouron what changed from the first two periods for the third and OT...
"We obviously raised the level of intensity in our game. We played with a little more desperation, which we needed. We were lacking a little of that for two periods. It doesn't always work out, but we had a real good third period and that got us back in the game. Then it carried into overtime."
Ian Cole'sopening thoughts after scoring and continuing then on what he saw on the goal...
"It felt good, obviously. Winning the game is what matters. Getting our first taste of OT is great. We turned it on in the third and then it continued on into overtime. That's a great sign as well because we weren't really happy with how the first two periods went."
"We had some extended zone time there. Trocheck was up high, I was down low at the far side. We shot it and it bounced right to me and I was looking to pass to someone but no one was anywhere dangerous. So I decided to throw it on net and see what happens. Hockey is a game of weird bounces and it happened to go in. Not the prettiest, but we'll take it."
Antti Raantaspeaking on what overtime felt like from his perspective...
"When it started, you had the feeling that it wasn't going to take long. You never know what's going to happen in OT, but it just felt like the game was going to open up a bit more. They got their push in early and then Quickie started ours with his hit. It's just one puck at a time and you just try to make each save. Then you hope our guys can score."

What's Next?

The Canes are scheduled to hold a limited practice Thursday at PNC Arena. Game Two is scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m. EST.

Bonus Notes

Worth A Click:
Slavin Named Lady Byng Trophy Finalist
Round Two Schedule
Round Two Tickets On Sale Now
Round Two Watch Party Info
Series Preview: Second Round vs. New York
CanesCast Episode 211: Round Two
Mailbag #27: Round One Winners
Canes 2022 Playoffs Merch