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Rangers focused on forcing Hurricanes to deciding game

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The New York Rangers skate off the ice after losing 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

The New York Rangers return home knowing they need a win at home to keep their postseason going. The Carolina Hurricanes are still looking for their first road victory in these playoffs.

After Carolina won 3-1 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 series lead, the Rangers will be looking to force a deciding game in the second-round series when they host the Hurricanes in Game 6 on Saturday night (8 p.m. EDT, ESPN).

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ā€œWe lost a game and we didnā€™t play as well as we could have, so I was disappointed," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said Friday. ā€œThatā€™s playoffs, thatā€™s the way she goes. Weā€™ll be ready to go tomorrow night and thatā€™s what weā€™re looking forward to.

"Just worry about tomorrow and take care of business.ā€

A must-win game is nothing new for these Rangers. They trailed 3-1 against Pittsburgh in the first round, then won three straight ā€” becoming the first team in NHL history to rally from a deficit in three consecutive elimination games ā€” to advance.

ā€œWeā€™ve been in this position before," New York forward Ryan Strome said. "I like our chances on home ice. ... Weā€™re familiar with the situation. Got a chance at home to push it to (Game) 7 and thatā€™s all weā€™re worried about now.ā€

The Rangers also trailed in this series after losing the first two games in Carolina. They returned home and won Games 3 and 4 to even the series. Now, they have to win at home again to tie the series one more time.

ā€œThe feel in that dressing room is super confident at all times and I think the first series helped a little bit,ā€ Strome said. ā€œAnd having to win Games 3 and 4 (in this series), those are pretty must-win games and we did a pretty good job. We can draw from those experiences.ā€

And what those experiences have taught the Rangers is to have a singular focus on the task at hand, and not worry about the series or deficits.

ā€œWell, your backs are against the wall," Gallant said. ā€œYou go out and you play your game. You know if you lose this game thereā€™s no tomorrow. We did that real well last series, hopefully we can do it again tomorrow. I donā€™t think we change anything strategy-wise. We just go out there and play our game.ā€

Forward Chris Kreider agreed, adding: "We've got to win one game. ... Lot of things we could take from (Game 5 loss) and do a better job of. Learn from that and win one game. Win the first shift, win the first period and go from there.ā€

The Hurricanes are also trying to win one game ā€” on the road, for the first time in the postseason. After their latest victory, they improved to 7-0 at home, but are 0-5 on the road.

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour isn't concerned by the team's lack of road wins, though he acknowledges people talk a lot about it.

ā€œThatā€™s a non-issue,ā€ he said. "Itā€™s all I hear about endlessly. We havenā€™t played poorly on the road. Our gameā€™s been fine. Thereā€™s a couple of things that have gone squirrelly. ... Weā€™re playing good teams. Thatā€™s how it goes.ā€

The Hurricanes regained the series lead with a strong defensive effort in Game 5, limiting the Rangers to 17 shots on goal ā€” including five in each of the first two periods.

ā€œDoes it transfer over, obviously we hope so,ā€ Brindā€™Amour said. ā€œI donā€™t usually take a lot of stock one game into the next, good or bad. Itā€™s always about the next game and it takes a life of itā€™s own but definitely the way we want to do it.ā€

If the Hurricanes keep up their trend this postseason, the deciding Game 7 would be Monday night at home. But that's not something they want to think about right now.

ā€œWeā€™re going to give it our best,ā€ Brind'Amour said. ā€œWeā€™re going to try to win (Saturday). We do every night. Nothing really changes. Obviously, we donā€™t want to come back (home) and have another game. Weā€™re going to do everything we can to win tomorrow night.ā€

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Follow Vin Cherwoo at http://www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP

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