Hurricanes edge Rangers 3-1, one win from Eastern Conference Finals

In the long arc of playoff hockey, where momentum is everything and home ice can feel like destiny, the Carolina Hurricanes moved to within one victory of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night, defeating the New York Rangers 3-1 at PNC Arena to claim a 3-2 series lead. Their dominance at home — seven straight playoff wins, a franchise record — stands as a testament to what this team has built in Raleigh, even as the road remains an unsolved riddle. The series now shifts to New York, where the Rangers, seasoned survivors, will try to extend a story that Carolina is eager to end.