New York Rangers 3, Carolina Hurricanes 4: Antti Raanta, Defense Fall Flat (Highlights)

Without Henrik Lundqvist, Antti Raanta and the New York Rangers defense could not stop the Carolina Hurricanes from putting up four goals.

• New York Rangers 3 (43-23-2, 88 pts)
• Carolina Hurricanes 4 (27-27-10, 64 pts)
• NHL, Final, Box Score
• PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina

For fans of the New York Rangers, this game was neither fun nor rewarding. Despite tallying three goals, the defense in front of Antti Raanta was beyond horrid in surrendering a total of four to the very weak Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh on Thursday night.

New York’s five-game road winning streak is snapped via the Canes 4-3 victory.

Navigating through a back-and-forth contest, the score was 3-2 in favor of the Blueshirts when the controversy began.

Sebastian Aho scored on the power play at the 9:04 mark of the final frame. Raanta, who was screened in front, felt like he was interfered with. He was, but the officials did not reverse the goal citing Raanta’s position being out of the crease.

The MSG broadcast and Rangerstown simply didn’t agree.

On the power play again, Aho capitalized again, scoring his second of the period providing his team with the one-goal lead that lasted.

Mika Zibanejad tallied two goals while Chris Kreider added his 26th of the season in the first period. Derek Stepan, who’s still mired in his scoreless drought after smacking one off the post late in the third, helped with two assists. The captain, Ryan McDonagh, registered one.

Raanta only managed to stop 26-of-30 shots. Cam Ward was huge in stopping 40-of-43 Rangers shots.

Next up for New York will be the Detroit Red Wings for a Sunday night affair in Hockeytown.