Rangers defeat Hurricanes in Game 4, even second-round series

NEW YORK -- Andrew Copp had a goal and two assists for the New York Rangers in a 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

The best-of-7 series is tied. Game 5 is at Carolina on Thursday.
New York has won two straight games after losing the first two.
"I think we've played a pretty good series so far," Copp said. "Just trying to build on some of this momentum we've created in these last two games. Guys are feeling a little bit better about themselves and we've got to ride this momentum into Carolina [for Game 5]."

Adam Fox and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and an assist, and Ryan Lindgren had two assists for the Rangers, the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division. Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves.
"Really you look at the four games," New York coach Gerard Gallant said. "It's not just the two at home, but the four games have been pretty much one-goal games most of the way through. We are two teams that are close and battling. I just think it's been outstanding hockey by both teams."
RELATED: [Complete Hurricanes vs. Rangers series coverage]
Teuvo Teravainen scored, and Antti Raanta made 24 saves for the Hurricanes, the No. 1 seed in the Metropolitan. They are 0-5 on the road in the playoffs and have been outscored 21-8, including 7-1 the past two games. Carolina is 6-0 at home.
"You've got to keep getting the chances," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "I'm happy that we're at least creating some offense. I mean, [Shesterkin] played well, you've got to give him tons of credit. But to me, the start is what did it to us."

Vatrano gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 13:31 of the first period. He took a cross-ice pass from Copp and scored from inside the right circle.
The goal occurred with Carolina forward Steven Lorentz in the box for an instigator penalty after fighting New York defenseman Jacob Trouba following a hit on Max Domi in the neutral zone.
"These [are] good teams at this time of the year, that's what they have," Brind'Amour said. "And then the power play [goal]. … So, we've just got to find a way to fight through it, not take the unnecessary penalties. After the first, we played OK, but it's too late because you spotted them a couple and then you're just chasing the game."
Fox extended the lead to 2-0 at 15:42 on a redirection of Lindgren's shot.
Mika Zibanejad made it 3-0 at 16:48 of the second period after Lindgren's shot went behind Raanta and Zibanejad poked it in the net.
"When you're up 3-0, the other team is going to push a little, create chances, and they did that and we got the saves when we needed it," Fox said. "But overall, it seemed like every line was able to create chances, was able to give the team a spark if we needed it. I definitely say it was one of the more complete efforts we've had."

Teravainen cut it to 3-1 at 6:33 of the third period, scoring in front on a pass from Sebastian Aho.
Copp scored at 11:10 for the 4-1 final. It was his fifth goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He was acquired in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets on March 21.
"I think they pushed hard and we were maybe a little bit on our toes in the third but getting that fourth goal to kind of alleviate a little bit of that pressure was huge for us," Copp said. "But I think the never-die mentality has been in this team from Day One, and I've kind of felt that from walking in a couple of months ago. I feel like the new guys have kind of fit right in with that mentality."
The Hurricanes have scored six goals in the series, one of which was an empty-net goal. They scored two goals in Games 3 and 4 after ranking ninth in the regular season in goals per game (3.38).
"We obviously wanted to come here and win some games," Carolina captain Jordan Staal said. "Disappointing effort obviously, especially today but we'll have to regroup tomorrow, figure out what we're doing wrong and have a better effort and go win one at home."
NOTES: Aho, who had an assist on Teravainen's goal, became the Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers all-time playoff scoring leader with 44 points, passing Eric Staal. His 26 playoff assists are also first, one ahead of Ron Francis. … The Rangers won their fifth straight home game in the playoffs, tying their team record, done four times previously (last in 1994). … The Hurricanes are the third team in NHL history to lose their first five road games in a postseason, joining the 1992 Montreal Canadiens and the 1976 Toronto Maple Leafs. … It was Lindgren's first NHL multipoint game in the playoffs.