RALEIGH, N.C. _ There would be no celebration for the "Jerks" this night.
The Carolina Hurricanes played their first game since being labeled a "bunch of jerks" by Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry, hosting the New York Rangers on Tuesday at PNC Arena. Many were wondering that kind of postgame celebration the Canes might have planned if they won, something that would further infuriate Cherry.
But the Canes did not win. The Rangers captured a 2-1 victory, taking the lead in the third period on a goal by Vladislav Namestnikov and holding off a late push.
Connor Brickley also scored for the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist allowed only a second-period goal to the Canes' Jordan Martinook, making 43 saves.
In the tight fight for playoff position in the Eastern Conference, the Hurricanes (31-23-6) trailed the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens by one point entering the game _ the Blue Jackets in third place in the Metropolitan Division, and the Pens and Canadiens holding the two wild-card positions.
The Canes shut out the Rangers, 3-0, on Feb. 8, ending a 16-game losing streak at Madison Square Garden. Goalie Petr Mrazek had the shutout that game _ on a night when the Rangers honored their 1994 Stanley Cup champions _ and also shut out the Dallas Stars this past Saturday, but Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour went with Curtis McElhinney on Tuesday.
With owner Tom Dundon in the arena watching, the Canes took a 1-0 lead on Martinook's goal, but the Rangers (26-25-8) tied it on Brickley's first goal of the season.
Brickley's score initially was waved off as the forward crashed the net and had the puck bounce off him. The ruling: Brickley batted the puck into the net.
But after review, it was determined the puck hit his chest and was not batted in _ good goal and a tie score, 1-1.
Brickley has a connection to the Canes. Carolina acquired Brickley in October 2016 in a trade that involved Brody Sutter, and he played 69 games in 2016-17 in the American Hockey League with the Charlotte Checkers.
Then, another twist _ and a surprise. When the Vegas Golden Knights made their expansion selections in June 2017, they took Brickley from the Canes _ a deal arranged by former Canes general manager Ron Francis and George McPhee of the Knights.
Brickley came to the Rangers in a Jan. 14 trade with the Nashville Predators and was playing his third game for New York.
