In the second period of Game 2 on Tuesday, the second unit was racing against time to break a 2-2 tie at the end of the Rangers’ power play.
After carrying the puck to the middle of the ice and entering the Capitals’ zone cleanly, Jack Roslovic circled Washington’s net, placed a post in the right faceoff circle, and accepted a pass from Erik Gustafsson.
Later, the puck, acquired by the Rangers at the trade deadline, sailed past Charlie Lindgren’s blocker and hit the short side of the puck through a narrow gap to the back of the net, giving his team the lead en route to a 4-3 victory. I got it back. capital.
It also came at a difficult angle.
“This is elite play at its finest,” Washington head coach Spencer Carberry said. “I have to put my hat on.”
Game 2 was perhaps Roslovic’s best game since the Rangers acquired the 27-year-old forward from the Blue Jackets at the trade deadline in exchange for a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick.
In addition to scoring, Roslovic was also a little more noticeable in transition and creating space for his linemates in the offensive zone.
There hasn’t been much to write home about since Roslovic was used as the right winger for Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, but the Ohio State native had another encouraging performance on Tuesday.
“I think he’s a factor,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “I talked about Mika earlier, I don’t think it’s just Mika alone. I think his linemates have to help him contribute as well. joined in and hit it on Mika, Mika sends [Kreider] I am leaving. He’s on the second unit of the power play and takes some time at the end. He’s not in the penalty kill rotation, so rolling the fourth line will naturally give some players more minutes.
“It doesn’t necessarily reflect a lack of confidence in the way he plays or what he can contribute. He played two games, produced some points for us and played great. I think he brings some speed and skill and contributes.”
After scoring 2-1 on the man advantage in Game 2 on Tuesday, Zibanejad scored his seventh career goal on the playoff power play, moving him into a tie for seventh on the franchise’s all-time list with Ron Greshner.
It was his 13th multi-point career in the playoffs and tied for fifth in Rangers history with Kreider and Walt Tkachuk.
Quandre Miller won Tuesday’s game 4-2, joining Brendan Smith, Matt Green and Nicklas Lindstrom as the fourth player in the last 20 years to score a short goal and a game-winner in the playoffs. He became a defensive player. .
