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Smith, Raanta, Hurricanes top Rangers for 2-0 series lead
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Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brendan Smith (7) puts the puck past New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) for a goal during the second period during Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Friday, May 20, 2022, in Raleigh, N.C. - photo by AP Photo/Chris Seward
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Brendan Smith scored a shorthanded goal late in the second period while Antti Raanta finished with 21 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Rangers 2-0 on Friday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. Smith's goal off a feed from Sebastian Aho marked his first postseason goal in nine years, and it was the difference in a tightly defended game by both teams with little space to operate and even fewer traffic-free looks at the net. Aho added a clinching empty-net score to finish this off with 1.8 seconds left as Raanta held up.