The Rangers’ struggles continued as their effort fell short yet again. A chance to snap their three-game skid turned into another disappointment, as they dug into an even deeper hole. Beating the Hurricanes could have been a much-needed remedy for their woes, but the 4-3 loss on Wednesday night at Lenovo Center only compounded their troubles.
The defeat extended the Rangers’ losing streak to four games, with the team squandering a third-period lead in front of a mixed but invested crowd. A win would have been a welcome relief during a difficult stretch, but this loss only added to the turbulence of recent days.
Having allowed 40-plus shots in each of their previous three games, the Rangers have now been outshot in seven of the 12 contests they’ve played this month. Despite starting the third period with a 3-2 lead, they couldn’t maintain control.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi tied the game for Carolina with a wraparound goal past Igor Shesterkin midway through the final period. A subsequent hooking penalty on Vincent Trocheck gave the Hurricanes a power play, which Jackson Blake capitalized on, slipping through the defense and scoring easily to reclaim the lead for good.
The game began evenly, with a 1-1 score after the first period, but Carolina capitalized on a power play early in the second. Seth Jarvis found space behind Ryan Lindgren and tapped in a cross-ice pass from Martin Necas.
The Rangers responded with flashes of brilliance, including Brett Berard’s first NHL goal on a 2-on-1 break with Mika Zibanejad to tie the game at 2-2. Later, Reilly Smith’s hustle set up Adam Edstrom, whose backhanded tap-in gave the Rangers a brief 3-2 advantage heading into the third.
Despite these moments, the Rangers struggled to generate consistent offense. The Hurricanes dictated play for much of the game, making it difficult for the visitors to establish themselves in the offensive zone.
Carolina’s Jack Drury, the nephew of Rangers president Chris Drury, opened the scoring with a sharp-angled goal less than five minutes in. Though Jimmy Vesey and Jonny Brodzinski combined for a highlight-reel equalizer late in the first, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
The Rangers’ inability to maintain pressure and capitalize on opportunities continues to haunt them, leaving the team searching for answers as their slump drags on.
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