Rangers 3, Hurricanes 2 (SO): Mats Zuccarello scored the lone goal of the shootout in the second round as visiting New York completed a five-game season sweep of Carolina.

Rangers defenseman Matt Hunwick nearly ended the contest in overtime, but his shot hit the crossbar in the final minute. Zuccarello faked to his backhand before tucking the puck past Anton Khudobin in the bonus format, and Cam Talbot preserved the win by making a right pad save on Jeff Skinner.

J.T. Miller scored and Jesper Fast snapped his 22-game goalless drought for New York, which has won 16 of its last 17 meetings with the Hurricanes to remain five points ahead of the second-place New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division. Talbot finished with 28 saves to improve to 14-3-3 since replacing the injured Henrik Lundqvist.

Elias Lindholm and defenseman Ryan Murphy scored for Carolina, which has dropped six of its last seven (1-3-3) overall while losing its fifth straight home game. Defenseman Danny Biega notched an assist for his first career point and Khudobin turned aside 27 shots while making his fourth straight start in place of Cam Ward (flu).

Lindholm accepted a nifty pass from Victor Rask and beat Talbot between the pads from the right faceoff circle 2:01 into the contest to open the scoring. Miller answered at 3:39 of the second and an unmarked Fast turned in the slot and sailed a shot over the glove of Khudobin at 12:59, but Murphy's blast from above the circles with 5:33 remaining in the third forged a tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Three of the Rangers' five victories over Carolina came in the shootout. The Rangers posted a 2-1 win on Oct. 16 and a 3-2 triumph on Dec. 20. ... Fast's goal was his first since he scored in a 6-1 rout of Buffalo on Jan. 3. ... The Rangers failed on both of their power-play opportunities to drop to 0-for-18 in their last seven contests. ... Carolina D Brett Bellemore was credited with nine hits.