Hints of Tampa Bay last year for Brind’Amour

NEW YORK — Rod Brind’Amour smacks of Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year seeing Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers frustrate his troops this year.

« We feel exactly like our series against Tampa last year, » the Carolina Hurricanes coach said Tuesday after his team lost 4-1 in Game 4 of the series. second round against Rangers.

« Tonight was very similar in the sense that we get a good chance to score from the start, but it doesn’t fit in the goal, » continued Brind’Amour. Good teams at this stage of the season rely on good goalkeepers. Then, the Rangers scored in superiority, it is still very similar to the Lightning. »

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A year ago, the Hurricanes were wiped off the map in five games by the Lightning in the second round of the playoffs.

Shesterkin deprived the Hurricanes of silencing the 18,006 spectators at Madison Square Garden early in the evening, by making a spectacular save against the defender Brett Pesce.

“What can we do?, asked Brind’Amour. We must continue to create chances on offense. I’m glad that at least we are creating some. Their goalkeeper played well, we have to tip our hats to him, but for me it was his save at the start of the match that hurt us. »

The striking failure of Jacob Trouba at the place of Max Domi also hurt the Hurricanes because they got a costly penalty.

“It was a good check, we shouldn’t run after the trouble, cursed Brind’Amour. He may have taken a cross-check in the face, but whatever. We must avoid taking unnecessary penalties. »

At the Rangers, we didn’t miss an opportunity to point out that Trouba’s check had represented a turning point in the game. Brind’Amour was of the same opinion.

“After the first period, we were correct, but it was already too late, argued the pilot of the Hurricanes. They were leading by a few goals and we had to play catch-up hockey. »

Shesterkin made another great save early in the second period.

Video: CAR@NYR, #4: Shesterkin robs Teravainen in 2nd period

“Igor was sensational. He still is. He’s a big part of our team, like (Andrei) Vasilevskiy is for Tampa, Gallant said. That the goaltender shines brightly is what a team needs in the playoffs. »

If Shesterkin were to have the same demoralizing effect that Vasilevskiy had on the Florida Panthers, the Hurricanes are in trouble.