The New York Rangers are officially the first team out of the playoffs (and the bubble). The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Rangers 4-1 in Game Three Tuesday night to sweep the Qualifying Round series three games to none.

After the game, the teams continued one of the greatest traditions in sports: the handshake line. Except this year, the players went a safer route due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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The players gave each other fist bumps and mostly avoided close interaction as a sign of the times.

During the series, the Rangers never could get their offense going, scoring only one powerplay goal and getting outscored 11-4. Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist gave up seven goals in the first two games of the series before yielding the net to Igor Shesterkin for Game Three.

The Hurricanes were led by Sebastien Aho’s 7 points in 3 games, Andrei Svechnikov’s hat trick in Game Two (the Hurricanes’ first in franchise postseason history), and Justin Williams’ fight in Game One.

The Hurricanes, who advanced to the Eastern Conference Final last season after upsetting the defending champion Capitals in the first round, will now move on while the Rangers could win the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Not a bad parting prize.

Brendan Lemieux kicking off tonight's Storm Surge!

Thanks, buddy! pic.twitter.com/m0M5Wm95aU

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) August 5, 2020

Screenshot courtesy of Sportsnet