Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Panarin finds his game for Rangers

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily in-depth look at the 2022 NHL postseason. There are no playoff games scheduled for Sunday, the 28th day of the postseason.

On Tap

No games scheduled for Sunday.

What we learned

Panarin finds his game in Rangers win
Artemi Panarin had the puck on his stick a lot Saturday. He was skating well and looking to make plays through the neutral zone and in the offensive zone. His passes were crisp. The Rangers forward, who had been struggling to play his style against the Hurricanes, played his best game of the series. That he scored a 5-on-3 goal to give New York a 5-2 lead at 7:43 of the third period was the icing on the cake. After having his only shot attempt in a 3-1 loss in Game 5 blocked, Panarin had two shots on goal and six total attempts in Game 6. The Rangers need this version of Panarin in Game 7 on Monday. He has been too conservative in the three games on the road in the series. He's been chipping pucks into the zone instead of trying to make a play in the neutral zone that could lead to a chance in the offensive zone. He hasn't had the puck on his stick a lot in Raleigh. He hasn't been dangerous. Panarin is the kind of player who can be the difference in the Rangers advancing to the Eastern Conference Final. He was against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. He scored the overtime goal in Game 7 which got them into the second round. New York needs some more of his Game 7 magic on Monday. --Dan Rosen, senior writer
The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are simply a different team on the road than they are at home in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is not a new revelation exactly because it has been developing for the past month against the Boston Bruins in the first round and the Rangers this round. It was on full display in Game 6 in New York on Saturday. Goalie Antti Raanta is worse on the road. Their offense is worse on the road. Their defense is worse on the road. They're less disciplined and less hard to play against and less smart on the road. The numbers are stark. In their 7-0 run at home, the Hurricanes have scored 3.57 goals and allowed 1.14. In their 0-6 skid on the road, the Hurricanes have scored 1.67 goals and allowed 4.33. So, while it's probably something I already knew, the Hurricanes just keep solidifying they're a Jekyll and Hyde team and keep confusing everyone in the process. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

About Last Night

New York Rangers 5, Carolina Hurricanes 2
The Rangers avoided elimination and forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Second Round. Igor Shesterkin made 37 saves and had two assists in a 5-2 win against the Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden. Filip Chytil scored twice and Adam Fox had two assists for the Rangers, who will play in a second consecutive Game 7 this postseason. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 7. New York won its sixth straight home game, setting its record for most consecutive home playoff wins in one season. It has won four straight this postseason when facing elimination. The Hurricanes became the first team in NHL history to lose their first six road games in a single playoff. Carolina is 7-0 at home, including a 3-2 win against the Bruins in the first round. Brady Skjei had a goal and an assist, and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Hurricanes on Saturday. Antti Raanta allowed three goals on 13 shots before he was pulled in the second period and replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov (10 saves). Game 7 will be played Monday in Raleigh (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS). The winner will move on to play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.