By Ryan Bisesi, WRAL multiplatform producer

New York Rangers
Carolina Hurricanes
TNT | Saturday, May 11th 7:00 PM EDT

Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes finished the regular season three points shy of the Presidents Trophy-winning New York Rangers.

They now find themselves down three games and facing elimination at the hands of the Rangers.

The ghosts of recent postseasons returned Thursday in a 3-2 overtime loss to New York. The Canes’ last eight playoff losses have all been by one goal and they’ve lost their last five playoff overtime games dating back to last season’s sweep in the Eastern Conference Final.

When Artemi Panarin tipped in a pass from former Hurricane Vincent Trocheck early in overtime, the sinking feeling Canes fans have felt in recent springs returned while similar questions lingered.

How did a team that was so successful in the last three months of the regular season find itself being outplayed to this extent?

Whether it’s three points or three games, the disparity between the two teams never felt wider than the immediate moments after Game 3 when the Hurricanes again failed to score on numerous power play chances and allowed a deflating shorthanded goal that encapsulated the frustration surrounding the now mountainous deficit.

Even with Carolina getting the all-important first goal, the Rangers’ Chris Kreider answered with a shorthanded tally in the second period that nullified any momentum gained in the first 20 minutes. The Canes were seemingly their own worst enemy again.

“Certainly, you don’t want to feel sorry for yourselves or anything like that,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “It’s a new day and it’s a new challenge tomorrow. We want to put our best foot forward.”

In what was packaged as one of the more anticipated series of the NHL’s second round, the Rangers have been decidedly quicker, grittier and opportunistic in winning three one-goal games, two of which came in overtime.

“You lose two times in a row, obviously our backs are against the wall right now,” said Sebastian Aho. “You go about your business as usual. You come into work every day and give the best you got. What happened in the past is in the past.”

Only four teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit in NHL playoff history with the most recent instance being the Los Angeles Kings’ first-round triumph against the San Jose Sharks in 2014.

Canes goalie Pytor Kochetkov made 22 saves in his first career playoff start. On Friday, Brind’Amour didn’t commit to naming a starting goalie for Game 4. Frederik Andersen started games 1 and 2 along with all five games against the New York Islanders.

Game 4 is Saturday at 7 p.m. at PNC Arena.

Series schedule

• Game 1: Rangers 4, Canes 3
• Game 2: Rangers 4, Canes 3 (2 OT)
• Game 3: Rangers 3, Canes 2 (OT)
• Game 4: Saturday, May 11, 7 p.m., PNC Arena
• Game 5: Monday, May 13, 7 p.m., Madison Square Garden
• Game 6: Thursday, May 16, TBD, PNC Arena
• Game 7: Saturday, May 18, TBD, Madison Square Garden

Source: wralsportsfan.com