Series highlights: Chris Kreider almost single-handedly eliminates the Hurricanes

Last night, two NHL games were on the bill.

First, the Rangers tried to end the Hurricanes’ comeback hopes, then the Oilers and Canucks played the fifth game of their series.

Here’s what caught the eye on the Bettman circuit:

Chris Kreider (almost single-handedly) eliminates the Hurricanes

The Hurricanes were back in front of their fans to try and level the series at 3-3, after trailing 0-3 earlier in the series.

And clearly, the home side had the knife between their teeth, as they scored three of the game’s first four goals to take a 3-1 lead.

The fans on hand were beginning to dream of game #7.

CANES STRIKE FIRST IN GAME 6 #StanleyCup

: @NHL_on_TNT (truTV) & @SportsonMax https://t.co/W9mpYG1lMO
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/iNVlju6FiD

– NHL (@NHL) May 16, 2024

TWO-NOTHING CANES

THE FANS IN RALEIGH ALREADY FEELING A POTENTIAL GAME 7 pic.twitter.com/RXo6ea7uwj

– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 17, 2024

OH MY, SEBASTIAN AHO! pic.twitter.com/LALgi0Yt7g

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2024

And clearly, everything was smiling on the Hurricanes at this stage of the game.

Even Jordan Martinook made a spectacular save to deny the Rangers a certain goal. More and more, the Canes looked destined to win…

MARTINOOK JUST SAVED A GOAL! pic.twitter.com/On3zh0IrFq

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2024

But in the third period, Chris Kreider had clearly had enough. The Rangers forward scored not one, not two, but three unanswered goals to give his side the lead.

Clearly, Kreider was fed up with the Hurricanes hanging on.

CHRISTOPHER JAMES KREIDER

His natural hatty in the third period has sent the @NYRangers to the Eastern Conference Final! #StanleyCup

Hat Trick Challenge presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/YZUDraN3N7

– NHL (@NHL) May 17, 2024

Barclay Goodrow completed the scoring in an empty net, giving the Rangers a 5-3 victory.

They now win the series in six games, and will face the winner of the Panthers-Bruins series in the Eastern Final.

Canucks overcome controversial penalty to push Oilers to the wire

Game 5 of the series between the Canucks and Oilers took place last night in Vancouver.

And Evander Kane clearly understood the importance of the moment, giving his team the lead in the opening minutes of the first period.

Nice pass from Leon Draisaitl on the sequence.

Evander Kane opens the scoring in Game 5! pic.twitter.com/MWv3K4Bf0k

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2024

The end of the first saw a little more action. Carson Soucy brought both teams back to square one… before seeing Mattias Janmark restore the Oilers’ lead seconds later.

The score was 2-1 after 20 minutes.

SOUCY BACK IN THE LINEUP, BACK ON THE BOARD pic.twitter.com/yh8xRvqqMS

– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 17, 2024

OILERS BACK ON TOP JUST SECONDS LATER

MATTIAS JANMARK pic.twitter.com/neJLJ181ew

– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 17, 2024

In the second, Phil Di Giuseppe once again brought both clubs back to square one.

He scored the first playoff goal of his career on the sequence.

We’re tied up AGAIN!

Phillip Di Giuseppe pots one for the @Canucks! #StanleyCup

: @NHL_On_TNT (truTV) & @SportsonMax https://t.co/W9mpYG1lMO
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/pTcosOVUUT

– NHL (@NHL) May 17, 2024

At the end of the period, we were treated to an extremely controversial sequence, as Elias Pettersson was sent to the dungeon for “charging the opponent”.

I’ll let you make up your own mind about that… but let’s just say it didn’t go down too well with everyone.

Elias Pettersson gets two minutes for charging against Warren Foegele. pic.twitter.com/J3x1ZIK3Y8

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2024

At the end of the third, the score was still 2-2… but J.T. Miller clearly didn’t feel like going into overtime: with 32 seconds to go, he threaded the needle to score the winning goal.

And the fans on hand honored him by chanting his name.

J.T. MILLER WITH 32 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD