Chris Kreider sent the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final with a third-period natural hat trick Thursday night.

Kreider scored three times in nine minutes to erase the Carolina Hurricanes' third-period Game 6 lead and push the Rangers to a 5-3 elimination victory.

New York won the second-round series 4-2.

B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce

CHRIS KREIDER HAT TRICK 🤯<br><br>THE RANGERS HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD WITH 4:19 LEFT 🚨 <a href="">

NHL @NHL

CHRIS KREIDER HAT TRICK!!! 🎩🎩🎩 <a href="">#StanleyCup</a> <a href="">

B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce

THEY'RE THROWING HATS AT THE MSG WATCH PARTY FOR KREIDER 🤣 <a href="">

Kreider joins Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier as the third player in Rangers franchise history to score a third-period postseason hat trick.

Alan Hahn @alanhahn

Messier-level performance by Chris Kreider tonight in Carolina. Wow.

Mike Sheerin @Mike_Sheerin

Where were you when Chris Kreider saved the New York Rangers

Shayna @hayyyshayyy

Talk about a big game for Chris Kreider. <br>- 3 goals to fuel a comeback win<br>- 13 shot attempts in all situations, 7 on goal<br>- 24-12 shot attempt edge at 5v5 in his minutes<br>- 74% expected goals rate <br>- best game score of playoffs of 4.86<br>(<a href="">@NatStatTrick</a> / <a href="">@hockeystatcards</a>)

Big Head Hockey @BigHeadHcky

Chris Kreider tonight:<br><br>— 3 goals<br>— 7 shots<br>— 13 shot attempts (7 of them high-danger)<br>— 2 hits<br>— moved from 1st in Rangers history in playoff goals to... even more in 1st<br>— moved from 1st in Rangers history in playoff game-winners to... even more in 1st<br><br>He bleeds blue. <a href="">

ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ @Arda

Chris Kreider is the 3rd <a href="">#NYR</a> player in history with a natural hat trick in one period in the playoffs:<br><br>Wayne Gretzky in 1997 Conf Quarters Game 4 vs Panthers (2nd period)<br><br>Mark Messier in 1994 Conf Finals Game 6 vs Devils (3rd period)<a href="">@ESPNStatsInfo</a> <a href="">

Mark Fishkin #🟦 @MarkFishkin

Kreider with one of the biggest performance in <a href="">#NYR</a> history. In New York sports playoff history. <br><br>Absolutely incredible. <a href="">

Jake Oliver @jolivernyc

Legacy game for Chris Kreider. If 20 wasn't already destined for the rafters, it is now <a href="">#NYR</a>

The Hurricanes threatened to send the series to Game 7 as Carolina headed into the third period with a two-goal lead.

Kreider launched the Rangers' comeback by beating Canes goaltender Frederik Andersen on a backhander to slice the home team's lead in half with 13 minutes remaining.

He tied the game on a power-play goal five minutes later.

B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce

KREIDER JAMS IT HOME, WE GOT A ONE GOAL GAME AGAIN 👀 <a href="">

B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce

BREAD WITH THE SHOT, KREIDER WITH THE DEFLECTION 😱<br><br>WE GOT A TIE GAME 🔥 <a href="">

After Kreider put the Blueshirts in front with his hat-trick goal, Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stood tall to preserve the lead.

HockeyStatMiner @HockeyStatMiner

Kreider story is gonna be what's talked about but Shesterkin in that 3rd period was all-time all-world all-chopped chili chives, baby.<br><br>Looks like EH clocked him at +1.62 GSAx. In that period alone.

Marco @BlueMark18

Shesterkin's third period was absolutely heroic. Massive performance by Igor. He was just as important as Kreider, keeping the Blueshirts alive.

The Rangers advance to face the winner of the ongoing conference semifinals series between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins.

The Panthers lead the series 3-2 and could win a ticket to the conference final with a Game 6 win Thursday at TD Garden. Fans across New York will be watching when the puck drops in Boston at 7 p.m.