Hurricanes clinch Metropolitan Division title, defeat Rangers

NEW YORK --The Carolina Hurricanes clinched first place in the Metropolitan Division when Pyotr Kochetkov made 31 saves in a 4-3 win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes (53-20-8), who have won five straight games, set a team record for wins (53) and points (114) in a single season and will finish first in their division in back-to-back seasons for the first time. They were first in the Discover Central Division last season.
"I tried to say it in there with the guys, that's a pretty big accomplishment, but it's just not been our goal from Day 1," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Even though we had 82 games to try to come in first, it's kind of hard to be too excited about it because nobody is really going to care about this.
"It's all about the next thing. But it is a big accomplishment. This is a long run. It's been six or seven months of just grinding it out. We should enjoy it for a night."
Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist, and Sebastian Aho scored for his 400th NHL point (182 goals, 218 assists).

Kochetkov made his second NHL start and third straight appearance. He is 3-0-0 with six goals against on 61 shots.
"I think we're pleasantly surprised with Pyotr just because we had no idea," Brind'Amour said. "Nobody did. It's been a good story so far."
Kochetkov is playing because Frederik Andersen has missed five straight games with a lower-body injury. Antti Raanta was the backup Tuesday, but he too wasn't 100 percent, Brind'Amour said, because of a lower-body injury sustained Sunday.
"He's just got confidence, a little swagger to him that I think you need as a goalie, especially with the way he's been thrown into the games," Carolina defenseman Brady Skjei said of Kochetkov.
Igor Shesterkin made 32 saves and Chris Kreider scored his 52nd goal for the Rangers (51-23-6), who scored twice in the last 6:48 but lost their second straight game and will finish second in the Metropolitan Division.

Forwards Artemi Panarin and Andrew Copp were injured in the second period and did not return for precautionary reasons with the Stanley Cup Playoffs set to begin next week, New York coach Gerard Gallant said.
"I think if it was next week, one of those (playoff) games, both of them would have been back," Gallant said.
Panarin left with an upper-body injury with 15:08 remaining in the period. Copp, who was initially a game-time decision with a lower-body injury that caused him to miss New York's 3-1 loss at the Boston Bruins on Saturday, left with a lower-body injury with 12:23 left in the second.
Gallant said he wasn't sure if it was the same lower-body injury that impacted Copp.
"Should be fine, being cautious," Gallant said of both players. "I hate to see it, but I'd sooner be cautious than not have them for when the games really matter."
Kreider said it is disappointing to miss out on first place in the division, especially with two losses at home against the Hurricanes in a span of 14 days. Carolina won 4-2 on April 12.
"Tough pill to swallow, a couple close ones against a team that is just ahead of us in the standings the last couple of weeks," he said. "We're a competitive group. We wanted to win that game."
Trocheck gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 7:05 of the second period. The goal came 1:38 after the Hurricanes finished killing the third of three consecutive Rangers power plays going back to 18:18 of the first period.
"If they get one there everything changes," Brind'Amour said. "Crowd gets into and we're behind the eight ball, game is totally different. That was a crucial part of the game."

Jordan Martinook made it 2-0 at 13:48 of the second, scoring on a deflection of Derek Stepan's shot from the right circle.
"It got me in the big bicep," Martinook said.
Kreider cut it to 2-1 at 16:56, but Teuvo Teravainen restored Carolina's two-goal lead 1:23 later, making it 3-1.
Aho scored 32 seconds into the third period to extend the lead to 4-1.
Jacob Trouba cut the lead to 4-2 at 13:12 with a wrist shot that went in off Jesper Fast.
Alexis Lafreniere
made it 4-3 at 18:58 with a 6-on-5 goal, but the Hurricanes killed the last 1:02.
"Three weeks ago we were getting a little worried there and obviously the last four or five [games] we've kind of righted the ship," Martinook said. "Super proud of everyone in there."
NOTES: Hurricanes forward Max Domi played his 500th NHL game. … Teravainen's goal was his 100th with the Hurricanes. … Kreider won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, which is voted on by the fans and has been given to the Rangers player who "goes above and beyond the call of duty" every season since 1987-88 The award is named for former New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986. He died Jan. 10, 2017. … With his 52nd goal of the season, Kreider ties Adam Graves (1993-94) for second most goals scored in a single season in franchise history. He is two goals shy of tying Jaromir Jagr's record of 54. … Kreider has six points (two goals, four assists) during a five-game point streak. … Trouba has scored 11 goals, setting a new career high. He scored 10 goals in 2013-14 as a rookie with the Winnipeg Jets. … Mika Zibanejad had one assist to extend his point streak to five games (six points; two goals, four assists). … Carolina forward Seth Jarvis had one assist to extend his point streak to six games (six points; three goals, three assists).