Vincent Trocheck's 2OT Goal in Rangers' Game 2 Win vs. Hurricanes Thrills NHL Fans
May 8, 2024
Playoff hockey was at its best on Tuesday evening in Madison Square Garden.
A thrilling and exhausting matchup ended in the New York Rangers' favor after Vincent Trocheck's double overtime power play goal gave his team a 4-3 lead over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes and a 2-0 edge in their Eastern Conference second-round series.
NHL @NHLRANGERS FANS 🗣️<br><br>Does your reaction to Vincent Trocheck scoring the double OT winner rival the man himself? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <br><br>We'd love to see ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/spRr6pVPsC">https://t.co/spRr6pVPsC</a> <a href="https://t.co/F0MHASAzZj">pic.twitter.com/F0MHASAzZj</a>
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin made 54 saves, including 32 during the third period and overtimes combined. He has now allowed three or fewer goals in all 29 of his lifetime playoff games.
Blueshirts right wing Alexis Lafrenière scored two goals and teammate Chris Kreider added a third period score to knot the game at three and help propel the Rangers to a perfect 6-0 postseason start.
Carolina lost despite outshooting New York 57-39 and holding 2-1 and 3-2 leads. Hurricanes left wing Jake Guentzel scored twice, and Sebastian Aho assisted on all three Carolina scores, including Dmitry Orlov's first period effort.
In the end, Trocheck was the hero after a sensational game. He's also been the hero all playoffs with five goals (one in each of the last five games) and five assists.
Big Head Hockey @BigHeadHckyVincent Trocheck tonight:<br><br>35:21 toi (#1 on Rangers as a forward)<br>— 1 game-winning-goal (in double OT)<br>— 2 points<br>— 15 shot attempts<br>— 3 hits<br><br>The first Ranger with 5-straight games with a goal in the postseason in over 90 years <a href="https://t.co/jMMTDzmL75">pic.twitter.com/jMMTDzmL75</a>
Will Cohen @WillMCohenVincent Trocheck in the 2024 playoffs:<br>6 GP<br>5 Goals<br>5 Assists<br>10 Points<br>1.67 PPG<br>18 SOG<br>59.8 FOW%<br><br>He's currently on a five game goal streak 🤌🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYR</a><br> <a href="https://t.co/Cy6770wb4S">pic.twitter.com/Cy6770wb4S</a>
The 30-year-old also drew the crucial cross-checking call against Brady Skjei, leading to the power play and eventual game-winner.
Fans and analysts applauded Trocheck's efforts and game-winning score against his ex-team:
x - Rangers on MSG @RangersMSGN"That moment right there, it doesn't get much better than that" - Henrik Lundqvist on Vincent Trocheck's clutch Overtime winner to keep <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYR</a> perfect in the playoffs!<a href="https://twitter.com/VallysView?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VallysView</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/HLundqvist?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HLundqvist</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYRangers</a> <a href="https://t.co/HtytDupy0r">pic.twitter.com/HtytDupy0r</a>
Marc Weissman @mgweissmanGod bless the Beautifully Aging Tweet Hockey Gods!!! 🥳🏒💙 VINCENT TROCHECK!!! ITS A POWER PLAY, OVERTIME, GAME-WINNING GOAL!! SOOOOO, SOOOO HAPPY FOR TROCH!!! 🥳🏒💙🥳 <a href="https://t.co/c2nh2m1um2">https://t.co/c2nh2m1um2</a> <a href="https://t.co/KPJfBJw2DZ">pic.twitter.com/KPJfBJw2DZ</a>
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will take place on Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina's PNC Arena at 7 p.m. ET.