In a marathon of ice warfare lasting an astounding one hour, twenty-seven and a half minutes, Vincent Trocheck etched his name in Rangers' lore with a double-overtime heroics, securing a 4-3 triumph in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff showdown on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. Trocheck seized the moment in the second OT, capitalizing on ex-Ranger Brady Skjei's cross-checking penalty.
I don’t know. I’ll watch it and let you know tomorrow," Trocheck remarked when pressed to recount the decisive goal. "Typically when those games go into overtime, double overtime, any team could win those games.
Tuesday's epic clash stretched into the annals as the lengthiest NHL bout of the 2024 postseason. Rangers' left winger Alexis Lafreniere ignited the Blueshirts with a pair of goals, fortifying their stronghold on home ice. Artemi Panarin orchestrated two pivotal assists, notably fueling Chris Kreider's power-play equalizer early in the third period, leveling the scoreboard at 3-3. Goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin showcased an unparalleled performance, turning away a season-high 54 shots.
Igor played an Igor-esque type game. He was outstanding, kept us in the game," Trocheck lauded. "It’s tough to beat our team when he’s making saves like he was tonight.
The Blueshirts extended their postseason reign, notching their sixth consecutive playoff victory and their eighth triumph spanning back to the regular season. On the opposing front, Carolina's left-winger Jake Guentzel found the back of the net twice, while center Sebastian Aho orchestrated three crucial assists. Hurricanes' goalkeeper Frederik Andersen put up a valiant effort with 35 saves.
Despite taking a commanding 3-0 lead against the Islanders in the opening round, the Hurricanes have stumbled, dropping three of their last four matchups. Shesterkin emerged as the linchpin for the Rangers, single-handedly steering Game 2 into overtime. His heroics included denying Seth Jarvis' short-handed attempt during a 2-on-1 break and thwarting Jalen Chatfield's shot, denying Aho's rebound. The Rangers' Russian stalwart boasts a stingy average of just two goals per game through the initial six playoff encounters.
Amidst a barrage of 18 shots in the opening overtime period, both Andersen and Shesterkin stood as impenetrable bastions. Yet, in a stunning mishap during the final minute of the third period, ESPN momentarily diverted viewers to the Avalanche versus Stars game, before swiftly rectifying the error after approximately 20 seconds.
Game 1 of the clash between the Hurricanes and Rangers was dominated by the Hurricanes' struggles on special teams. Failing to convert on all five power-play opportunities, Carolina stumbled once again in Game 2, going 0 for 5. The Rangers, however, were equally lackluster in the first 40 minutes, with both teams going 0 for 6 on power plays.
Carolina's power-play woes were exacerbated by their own errors. Twice they held a man advantage only to negate it with penalties of their own. In the first period, an early power-play chance was squandered after Will Cuylle's goalie interference penalty. Similarly, in the second period, a 5-on-4 advantage following Jacob Trouba's penalty was nullified when Jake Guentzel was penalized for an altercation with Adam Fox.
During this exchange, cameras caught former Ranger turned Hurricane defenseman Tony DeAngelo exchanging heated words with Rangers' defenseman K'Andre Miller, hinting at a potential future confrontation. Despite Carolina's missteps, the Rangers capitalized on two of their seven power-play opportunities, including the crucial game-winning goal by Vincent Trocheck.
Peter Laviolette's squad, meanwhile, has found success on the power play throughout the postseason, tallying eight goals, second only to the Oilers' nine.
The physicality and scoring began early, mirroring Game 1. Lafreniere struck first for the Rangers with a well-placed wrist shot, assisted by Miller and Alex Wennberg. Guentzel responded for the Hurricanes before Dmitry Orlov tipped in a shot in the waning seconds of the first period, giving Carolina a 2-1 lead.
The back-and-forth continued in the second period, with Lafreniere notching his second goal of the night off a sublime pass from Fox to level the score at 2-2. Guentzel reclaimed the lead for Carolina before Kreider capitalized on a third-period power play opportunity, tying the game once again at 3-3 after Andersen failed to corral the rebound.
The battle between the Hurricanes and Rangers promises to be a fiercely contested affair, with both teams showcasing resilience and determination on the ice.
Hurricanes center Evgeny Kuznetsov was notably absent from Tuesday's game due to an undisclosed issue, leaving a gap in Carolina's lineup. Max Comtois stepped up to fill the void, making his postseason debut in the 2024 playoffs. Comtois, who signed a one-year contract with Carolina in March, showcased his skills during his time with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, tallying 28 points in 45 games.
Initially, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour had indicated no anticipated lineup changes for Game 2, but circumstances necessitated Comtois' inclusion. Kuznetsov, who had been a consistent presence in Carolina's postseason campaign with two goals and two assists in the previous six games, was sorely missed.
As the series moves to Game 3 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Thursday, the Hurricanes will look to regroup and potentially reintegrate Kuznetsov into the lineup. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In conclusion, Max Comtois admirably stepped into the postseason spotlight for the Hurricanes in Game 2, filling in for the absent Evgeny Kuznetsov. Despite Carolina's efforts, the absence of Kuznetsov's offensive contributions was felt. As the series shifts to Raleigh for Game 3, the Hurricanes will aim to bounce back with a full roster and renewed determination, hoping to capitalize on their home ice advantage at the PNC Arena.
