RALEIGH, N.C. — In an intense matchup on Wednesday night, the Carolina Hurricanes emerged victorious against the New York Rangers, edging them out with a score of 4-3. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jackson Blake both scored in the third period, just 2:07 apart, helping the Hurricanes to maintain their strong performance at home, marking their ninth consecutive win on home ice.
Joining Kotkaniemi on the score sheet were Jack Drury and Seth Jarvis, contributing to the team’s success. With two assists in the game, Martin Necas claimed the top spot in NHL points, while goaltender Spencer Martin turned away 20 shots from the opposition.
This latest victory for the Hurricanes followed a thrilling game against the Dallas Stars, where they netted five goals in the final period to secure a win. The Rangers, unfortunately, are on a losing streak, dropping their fourth straight game.
The Ranger’s goals came from Jonny Brodzinski, Brett Berard, and Adam Edstrom. In net, Igor Shesterkin faced 30 shots in total, making 26 saves.
Kotkaniemi tied the game early in the third period with a wraparound goal, marking his third of the season at the 9:54 mark. Blake secured the lead for the Hurricanes with a power-play goal 7:59 remaining, marking his seventh goal as a rookie and his third winning goal. Earlier, Berard scored his first NHL goal, tying the game at 2-2, while Edstrom put the Rangers ahead just before the end of the second period.
In terms of special teams, the Rangers struggled, going 0-for-2 on power plays. This extended their streak of games without a power-play goal to seven, and they allowed more than one power-play goal for the first time this season. Brodzinski and Edstrom each scored their second goals of the season as well.
For the Hurricanes, this season has been marked by their offensive capabilities, with each of their nine home victories featuring a minimum of four goals.
A critical moment in the game came when Martin stopped all six shots he faced during the third period, contributing to the team’s overall defensive effort.
In terms of individual achievements, Necas reached an impressive milestone, accumulating 37 points—the fastest any player has reached this total in franchise history. His 25 assists are just a few shy of matching his previous season’s total, which was amassed in 77 games.
Looking ahead, the Hurricanes are set to host the Florida Panthers this coming Friday, while the Rangers will head to Philadelphia for their next challenge.