Svechnikov hat trick fuels Canes to 4-1 win over Rangers, 2-0 lead in qualifying series
The Carolina Hurricanes usually say the same things about Andrei Svechnikov.
He’s special, they say. Strong, built like an ox. Sniper, finisher. Hard worker. Star in the making. Humble. Those things.
The rest of the National Hockey League is fast catching up and did more of it Monday after Svechnikov’s hat trick fueled the Canes’ 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference qualifying series in Toronto.
Beating the Rangers and goalie Henrik Lundqvist again, the Canes have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series heading into Game 3 on Tuesday. And while there were no fans and thus no hats to hit the ice at Scotiabank Arena in this unprecedented postseason, Svechnikov left many buzzing with the first postseason hat trick in franchise history.
“He’s quickly emerging as one of the best players in this league, that’s for sure,” Rangers coach David Quinn said Monday.
Well, yes. Svechnikov is doing that. His two lacrosse-play goals this season earned much attention, but it’s his hard-driving style, scoring ability and maturing play that has the 20-year-old Russian winger on the brink of stardom.
“Everything he does you just sit back and go, ‘Wow.’” teammate Jordan Martinook said Monday.
Martinook scored his first career postseason goal Monday as the Canes’ energetic fourth line, centered by rookie Morgan Geekie, did their part. Goalie Petr Mrazek was dazzling at times, especially in flashing the glove and denying the Rangers, leading to some apparent frustration.
The first period wasn’t the Canes best although Svechnikov scored the game’s first goal with a shot off the rush that beat Lundqvist to the short side. The Canes, 7-for-7 on the penalty kill in the 3-2 win in Game 1, again committed penalties and the Rangers converted a 5-on-3 power play as Artemi Panarin scored for a 1-1 tie.
“We weren’t quite as dialed in and I thought the Rangers were on us and playing their game,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “But I thought as the game moved on we got more involved. Obviously you’ve got to give Petr a lot of credit. He made some real big saves to allow us to get into the game.”
And allow Svechnikov and his linemates to shine. Sebastian Aho had three assists as the Canes’ top line again outperformed the Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad line, and it was Aho passes off the rush that set up Svechnikov for his first and third goals.
The second? It was on a bomb of a shot from the top of the right circle on a second-period power play. It beat Lundqvist high to the blocker, gave the Canes a 2-1 lead and was the winning goal.
“He’s the whole package.” Quinn said.
Svechnikov scored twice against the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of last year’s playoffs — that before being knocked out of the first-round series after a fight with the Caps’ Alex Ovechkin. But he now has his first career hat trick and a piece of franchise history. He also had a game-high six hits Monday.
“I thought we came out hard and we played hard and I’m excited to score my first hat trick, especially against a superstar goalie, you know,” Svechnikov said after the game. “I wouldn’t do that without my partners. Thanks for that. I think we played a really good game.”
That’s Svechnikov. The No. 2 pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, he prefers to talk more about the team game than his own game. But others will.
“At 20, scoring a hat trick in the playoffs, that’s pretty special,” Martinook said. “Coming into training camp (in 2018) and he’s 18 and he looks like he’s 24 . Built like an ox and he can skate and shoot and does everything fast and thinks the game well.”
Martinook smiled, saying, “I’m pumping his tires pretty good right now but he’s special. It’s fun to watch him and it’ll be fun to watch him for the next couple of months here.”
A “couple of months” would mean the Canes winning series and moving on. But there’s the matter of winning a third game against the Rangers to close out the series.
Brind’Amour did not make any lineup changes from Game 1 and the Canes again played without injured defenseman Dougie Hamilton. Quinn has gone with Lundqvist twice but could turn to rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin if he’s deemed fit to play.
“We know the type of game we need to play and I feel like we’ve done that pretty well the first two games,” Martinook said.
CAROLINA HURRICANES VS NEW YORK RANGERS
WHAT: Game 3, Qualifying Round.
WHEN: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto.
WATCH, LISTEN: FOX Sports Carolinas is broadcasting the game remotely from PNC Arena, with Mike Maniscalco handling play by play and Tripp Tracy the analyst.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 2:45 PM.
