The Carolina Hurricanes became the first team to advance to the round of 16, sweeping the New York Rangers out of the postseason with a 4-1 victory in Game 3 of their best-of-five qualifying-round series Tuesday night.

More to come.

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Following a 3-0 loss in Game 2 at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella wasn't interested in dissecting what went wrong.

"I'm not going to break the game down, at all," Tortorella told reporters in the first answer of his post-game presser. "Toronto played a really good game, we sucked. I'm not interested. It doesn't help our club at all right now to break it down with you guys. I hope you can understand that."

When asked another performance-related question later, Tortorella doubled down.

"Toronto was really good, we sucked," he repeated.

Columbus suffocated Toronto's offense in Game 1 with an impeccable defensive performance but was unable to do it again on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs were in control for most of the contest, owning a 56-36 advantage in even-strength shot attempts, and a 19-12 edge in scoring chances, according to data provided by SPORTLOGIQ.

The best-of-five series is now tied 1-1. Game 3 takes place Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET.

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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin was taken to hospital after being stretchered off Tuesday following an awkward collision late in Game 2 of his club's qualifying-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus center Pierre-Luc Dubois cross-checked Muzzin behind the Toronto net, and the blue-liner then appeared to hit his head on the leg of Blue Jackets winger Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Muzzin briefly sat up while talking to a trainer on the ice. It took several minutes for medical staff to place him on the stretcher before removing him.

Toronto confirmed after its 3-0 victory that Muzzin had been hospitalized. The team added that he was alert and could move all of his limbs.

The NHL's quarantine rules could force the 31-year-old rearguard to miss Toronto's next two games. The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets are scheduled to play Game 3 on Thursday, with Game 4 to follow on Friday.

Muzzin is a key member of Toronto's defense corps. He ranked third on the team in average ice time during the regular season, logging 21:36 per night while collecting 23 points in 53 contests.

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The New York Rangers will start rookie Igor Shesterkin between the pipes for their must-win contest Tuesday night versus the Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced.

Henrik Lundqvist started and lost the first two games (3-2 and 4-1) of the series, with Shesterkin deemed unfit to play.

Shesterkin, 24, made his NHL debut in January and played a massive role in the Rangers' second-half surge up the Eastern Conference standings. Shesterkin went 10-2 in 12 starts with a .932 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average.

Puck drop for the critical contest is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.

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Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask will return to the crease against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, according to Boston Sports Journal's Connor Ryan.

Rask had an illness and did not dress for the Bruins' 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.

The 33-year-old netminder allowed three goals on 20 shots over 29:54 of action against the Columbus Blue Jackets in exhibition play last week.

Rask enjoyed a strong 2019-20 campaign, posting a 26-8-6 record with a league-leading 2.12 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.

The Finnish puck-stopper boasts impressive postseason numbers with a 2.19 GAA and .927 SV% in 89 career playoff appearances.

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Former Washington Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic signed a one-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, the Russian team announced Tuesday.

Leipsic, 26, was released by the Capitals in May after a group chat between him and his friends containing inappropriate and misogynistic comments surfaced on social media.

The 5-foot-11 winger was in the final year of his NHL deal and was set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2019-20 campaign.

Leipsic tallied 16 goals and 59 points in 187 NHL contests.

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