The Knicks have Jalen Brunson, who was heroic in the playoffs, and the Rangers have Vincent Trocheck.
Trocheck scored the winning goal in double overtime to lead the Rangers to a 4-3 victory in Game 2 and gave the Blueshirts a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Hurricanes, leading forward Extended the record for consecutive playoff goals to one. Five games, tying a franchise record.
He joined Cecil Dillon as the only Ranger players to score in five consecutive games in a postseason contest, Dillon’s record in 1933.
Compounding Trocheck’s impressive night, he led the Rangers in ice time with 35 minutes, 21 seconds and finished the game with two points — including an assist on Chris Kreider’s game-tying goal in the third. – and had 15 shot attempts.
“During the playoffs, you get pushed into games that have overtime or multiple overtimes, but his role remains the same,” Rangers manager Peter Laviolette said. spoke to reporters after the match. “He’s part of the game. I double shift him to back up faceoffs or just to have two centermen on the ice, and he’s on the ice longer.” It’s the extra time. The power play, the penalty kill, the five-on-five play, the production of his line.
“Either way, when the game is over, he just keeps answering the final bell. He’s outstanding, he’s enthusiastic, and you can see that in his attitude and the way he plays.”
Trocheck scored his second overtime goal with 12:37 left in the second overtime period, cementing himself in Rangers legend.
He picked up the spilled puck and shoved it into the pads of Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen for the win.
“At the moment of the goal, I couldn’t put into words what happened. It went in,” Trocheck said.
When a reporter asked him how he felt the moment his shot went into the net, he replied, “I don’t know. I’ll take a look and let you know tomorrow.”
It’s been an exciting few weeks at the Garden during the playoff runs between the Rangers and Knicks.
Trocheck’s heroics came a day after Brunson dropped 40 points in four straight games as the Knicks led 1-0 in their playoff series against the Pacers.
The Rangers’ series will be played in Carolina, with Game 3 on Thursday.
