Shesterkin was the difference. He made big saves in that 3rd period. Andersen allowing that 1st Kreider goal was the turning point. That can’t go in and don’t get RBA insistence on starting him when he was shaky all series.
Special needs and Goaltending were ultimately the difference in this series. Rangers powerplay scoring >>> Carolina powerplay scoring. Igor kept the rags in the series and gave his team a chance to win, Andersen didn’t.
Canes need game breakers on offense. They need pure goalscorers and new improved goaltending.
Never in doubt
Igor shesterskin >>>> overrated choker Freddy Andersen who gives up bad untimely goals at the wrong time. Anderse is a regular season goalie at this point. He will make many routine saves but won’t make the clutch/key ones a team needs.
Two ECF appearances in 3 seasons for the NYR. Impressive. Imagine a Boston-NY eastern conference finals in both leagues (NBA and NHL)
We might see the same scenario in the west, if both the Dallas mavericks and the Dallas stars both advance to the WCF. Three cities playing conference final games in both leagues at the same time. I forgot the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets could both advance to the WCF at the same time too.