DETROIT, MI — It’s not often that it’s clear on the scoresheet how essential Barclay Goodrow is to this Rangers team, but it was clear Friday night.
On the back of Goodrow’s third multi-goal game in his 10-year NHL career, the Blueshirts defeated the Red Wings 4-3 at Little Caesars Arena, making Detroit’s bid for a playoff spot a little more difficult. did.
The Rangers, who became the first team to qualify for the postseason, have sought to solidify their playoff lineup and may have found a new option in Goodrow on the fourth line, left wing.
After scoring just one point in the first 71 games of the season, Goodrow has three goals in his last four games, including two on Friday night.
The utility forward was all over the place in this game, on the forecheck, mid-play, and landing haymakers in the corners when called upon.
In the third season of a six-year, $21.85 million contract, Goodrow has received a lot of criticism about how his production, or lack thereof, relates to his contract.
But understand this: Before this game, Goodrow had played the most 5-on-5 minutes (760:33) of any NHL forward and had either 1 or 0 goals.
The only other forward to score a goal in 5:00 is Oskar Sundqvist of the Blues.
