Slightly off is too far for Carolina
The Carolina Hurricanes haven't played a bad game in the Eastern Conference Second Round, but they weren't good enough to score more than one goal in Game 4. It wasn't as much because of Igor Shesterkin the way it was in Game 3, when the New York Rangers goalie made 43 saves in a 3-1 win. This time it was more the Hurricanes being just a bit off, which is too much against a top goalie. Defenseman Brett Pesce had the entire right side of the net to shoot at early in the first period, but he hesitated and Shesterkin got there in time to make the glove save. Teuvo Teravainen had a chance from the left post on a cross-crease feed from Seth Jarvis early in the second period. Shesterkin made a toe save. Martin Necas hit the post on the power play in the second period. Goalie Antti Raanta appeared to make the save on Ryan Lindgren's shot late in the second period, but the puck trickled behind him and Mika Zibanejad backhanded it into the net. Little things become big things when they don't go your way. The Hurricanes learned the hard way Tuesday and now this best-of-7 series is tied heading into Game 5 on Thursday. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer
Rangers helped their goalie too
Shesterkin deserves the praise he is and will continue to get for his 30-save performance in Game 4 against the Hurricanes. He has allowed two goals on 75 shots the past two games. He's been as advertised as a finalist for both the Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy. But the Rangers deserve credit for being good in front of Shesterkin in Game 4. They were in shooting and passing lanes. They limited second-chance opportunities. They kept the Hurricanes to the outside. They cleared the puck a total of eight times on their two penalty kills. The Rangers have not had any real defensive lapses through four games in the second round, which is a remarkable turnaround from their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, when they twice allowed seven goals in a game and were burned for at least three in six of the seven games. They have allowed six goals against the Hurricanes, one an empty-netter and they are 9-for-9 on the penalty kill. -- Rosen
Oilers' longest-serving player has his biggest moment
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has played for the Edmonton Oilers for 11 seasons, longer than any of his teammates. The No. 1 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft has been through losing, disappointment and rebuilding, and now the Oilers are one win from making the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2006. Nugent-Hopkins scored twice in the 5-3 win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday that gave the Oilers a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, including the go-ahead goal in the third period. He agreed it was his biggest goal in the NHL. Coach Jay Woodcroft lauded him afterward for all the little things he does and how he goes under the radar on a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. "To see him get rewarded with two tonight, I was happy for him personally," Woodcroft said. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Flames need more resilience for longer
The Flames have done plenty of good things in the Western Conference Second Round, just not for long enough in any of the first four games. Now trailing the Oilers 3-1 in the best-of-7 Battle of Alberta series, the Flames have serious regrets. They let Game 2 get away from them, coughing up a shorthanded breakaway goal in a 3-3 game with less than 10 minutes to play in a 5-3 loss. And in a 5-3 loss in Game 4 Calgary had the momentum after tying the game 3-3 in the third period after being down 3-0, only to have some soft defensive moments lead to Edmonton's Nugent-Hopkins' scoring the game-winning goal with 3:27 left in regulation. The Flames have found their stable, predictable, aggressive game only in spurts in this series, now they have no choice but to put together a more complete effort in Game 5 or be eliminated from the playoffs. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer
