There weren’t any fans around to throw their hats onto the ice but that didn’t stop Andrei Svechnikov from scoring one. The Carolina Hurricanes winger scored his first, and the Canes’ first, postseason hat trick in a Game 2 victory over the New York Rangers.
Svechnikov scored early and scored often. Less than five minutes into the game, he made his presence felt, receiving the puck in stride from Sebastian Aho. An open lane toward goal, Svechnikov fired the puck past Henrik Lundqvist to open the scoring.
SVECHHHH!@Canes with the ICEBREAKER. 🚨 #StanleyCup
📺: NBCSN
💻: https://t.co/NvML9WtG9I pic.twitter.com/5cIwp25Du8— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) August 3, 2020
After the Rangers leveled things up at 1-1, Svechnikov came out from the start of the second period and blasted a slap shot on the power play. The goal put the Hurricanes back into the lead, one that they would keep throughout.
This Svechnikov fellow is pretty good. 🚨
That's 2️⃣ for the @Canes ⭐️
📺: NBCSN
💻: https://t.co/NvML9WtG9I pic.twitter.com/bERcpPykOY— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) August 3, 2020
Svechnikov’s third goal really put things out of reach. Up 3-1 with six minutes left, Aho was on a breakaway. But when things were closing in on him as he headed toward goal, he slid the puck across goal to Svechnikov to complete the hat trick and win 4-1.
Andrei Svechnikov completes his hat trick to extend the lead for Carolina. pic.twitter.com/Daz70F3KRz
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 3, 2020
The six seed Hurricanes now have a commanding 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Qualifying Round. They play again Tuesday night were Carolina can sweep New York and advance to the First Round.
