The Carolina Hurricanes took their act to Broadway for their first meeting of the season with the New York Rangers. The Canes aimed to continue their strong play in New York from last season after winning both games at Madison Square Garden. The team was coming off a 2-1 loss to Boston on Saturday afternoon, falling for the fourth time in their last six with a depleted lineup.
The big news coming into the night was the season debut of Pyotr Kochetkov. The Canes’ netminder played just once in the preseason before getting hurt, forcing him to miss the first month of the season. The lineup around him remained the same, with some tweaks to the forward lines. The Rangers countered with Igor Shesterkin, who has started the season well despite his 4-4-2 record.
The start of the game was very rough. The group seemingly threw Kochetkov into the fire, but he was ready for everything. He’d already stopped nine shots by the first commercial break. The tides turned when the Canes drew their first power play. On the ensuing chance, Nikolaj Ehlers snapped a shot off the post and past Shesterkin for his first as a Hurricane, staking his team to a 1-0 lead at the break.
NIKOLAJ EHLERS 🎯
He’s got his first with the @Canes!
📺: @NHL_On_TNT & @StreamOnMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T pic.twitter.com/A6Pq1wmHuJ
— NHL (@NHL) November 5, 2025
The Canes had to withstand an early New York power play in the second period that generated a ton of great chances. Their goalie was up to the task. Once again, the Canes did just enough to maintain their lead before pouncing late in the period. Sean Walker’s shot from the point floated through traffic and into the net, doubling the Canes’ lead before the second intermission.
There was no inch given in the third by the Hurricanes. Kochetkov faced one shot in the final 20 minutes, and it came from the center circle without any chance of going in. The defense against the Rangers was suffocating. With Shesterkin on the bench, Seth Jarvis provided the nail in the coffin, scoring into the empty net. Kochetkov finished the night with 25 stops, shutting out the Rangers, 3-0.
Kochetkov really likes playing at MSG as he returns to the lineup
Since joining the Canes late in 2022, Pyotr Kochetkov has a knack for showing up against the Rangers, especially on the road. He’s made at least one start at Madison Square Garden in each of his five seasons, and there have been some memorable moments. From his third-ever appearance to win the division crown in 2022 to his two-assist performance a year ago, Kochetkov likes this building.
That’s why Kochetkov’s making his season debut in New York made plenty of sense. He shows up when the lights are brightest, and in fewer places are the lights brighter than Broadway. The Canes didn’t have a good start, but their goalie did. Kochetkov faced 15 shots in the first period, and he had 24 saves with 8:00 left in the second. There was no visible rust in his game.
From that point on, the Canes’ defense was incredible. They held the Rangers without a shot for the remainder of the second and most of the third. The only shot Kochetkov faced in the third was a softball from the center red line. It might’ve been a busy start, but it ended with a perfect finish as Kochetkov picked up the 11th shutout of his career.
The jury remains out on the Canes’ new forward lines
With all the shifting the lines did for the Hurricanes at Monday’s practice, I can’t say we have a definitive answer on whether they worked. Only one of the Canes’ three goals came at 5-on-5, with the fourth line creating Sean Walker’s goal. The other two were on the power play and with the Rangers’ net vacant at the end of the night.
There was no question that the Staal line with Jarvis was going to be fine, and I think the group might’ve found something with Nikolaj Ehlers playing next to Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. While his goal came on the power play, Ehlers was throwing everything he could at the net, recording six shots. I didn’t think Taylor Hall had a great night, but I’ll take two points over line synergy any day.
Additional Thoughts
The defense stymied the Rangers late in the contest, but they also found the scoresheet. Sean Walker was the only player to record a multi-point effort, assisting on Ehlers’ goal before adding one of his own in the second. Mike Reilly also provided an assist, and he was initially awarded one on the empty-netter.
What has traditionally been a tough place to play for the Hurricanes hasn’t been such an issue for them lately. They’ve now won four straight meetings in the regular season in New York, outscoring the Rangers, 16-2, during that stretch. Obviously, it isn’t sustainable, but it’s nice to see the team finally get rolling in a tough building to walk into.
Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes are about to get a lot of ice time in Raleigh, kicking off a stretch of five home games in their next six contests on Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild. The team faces its first back-to-back of the season over the weekend, hosting the Sabres on Saturday before heading to Toronto on Sunday.
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