Hurricanes’ playoff hopes slipping away after road loss to Rangers

Jimmy Vesey registers a hat trick in New York's win

Rangers center Ryan Spooner shoots against Hurricanes goalie Scott Darling during the second period at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports)

Jimmy Vesey scored a hat trick, including the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, and Mats Zuccarello added two goals to lead the New York Rangers to a 6-3 win over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night in New York.

New York snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, while Carolina lost for the third time in four games.

Vesey scored the go-ahead goal with 7:45 left in the game, beating Scott Darling short-side for his 14th goal of the season. Vesey’s goal came less than four minutes after a Victor Rask goal tied the score at three 8:23 into the period.

Zuccarello added an insurance goal for the Rangers five minutes later on an empty-netter off an assist from Ryan Spooner, and Vesey added his third on an empty-net goal with less than a minute left in the game.

Carolina’s Lee Stempniak scored in the second period, sandwiched by two New York goals at the 1:52 and 11:51 marks, on goals by Vesey and Vladislav Namestnikov, respectively.

The Rangers got on the board first at the 9:06 mark of the first period as Zuccarello banged home a rebound past Darling to give him goals in three straight games and 13 overall on the season.

Carolina tied the score at the 14:32 mark of the first period on a Teuvo Teravainen’s 20th goal with assists from Brett Pesce and Sebastian Aho.

The Rangers won the game despite being outshot 44-23 and committing 19 giveaways.

The Hurricanes return home on Tuesday for two games, starting with a battle against Boston before facing Philadelphia as they fight for a playoff berth.

New York remains home on Wednesday against Pittsburgh before heading on the road Saturday to face St. Louis.