NEW YORK — In 80 regular-season video games, Rangers heart Barclay Goodrow scored 4 targets. It has taken solely 12 playoff video games for him to equal that whole, together with his clutch extra time purpose to win Friday’s Recreation 2 of the Japanese Convention finals because the Rangers evened the collection with the Florida Panthers 1-1.
“I do not know. I simply attempt to deliver my greatest sport, each evening,” Goodrow stated when requested about his postseason offensive uptick. “It feels good every time you are able to do one thing to assist the group.”
That work ethic had Goodrow’s teammates ecstatic about one of many Rangers’ most unsung heroes getting his postseason second within the 2-1 victory.
“He is a type of guys that will get groups to win. He is a big-time participant who exhibits up in big-time video games,” captain Jacob Trouba stated.
“To see him rating a purpose like tonight is superior, as a result of his position does not all the time include that,” coach Peter Laviolette stated. “While you see any individual who does so many different issues that helps the group achieve success, you are actually completely happy for a man like that once you see him make a big impact on the sport.”
Goodrow scored at 14:01 of extra time. Trouba began the play with an outlet move from the Rangers’ defensive zone that Goodrow knocked down along with his stick close to heart ice. He moved the puck to teammate Vincent Trocheck, who despatched an aerial move again to Goodrow within the Panthers’ zone as linemate Will Cuylle drove to the web for a doable rebound.
“I suppose I do not actually keep in mind precisely the way it went in, however I simply keep in mind Troch made an amazing move to me,” Goodrow stated. “Cools was driving the web, opening up the lane. So it was an amazing play by these two.”
Goodrow fired a wobbly puck by way of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (28 saves) for the winner.
“I do not like to speak concerning the targets. He simply shoot and rating,” Bobrovsky stated. “It’s what it’s. Two good groups enjoying hockey. It is a good win for them.”
Because the Rangers mobbed Goodrow on the ice in entrance of a delirious Madison Sq. Backyard crowd, the Panthers stood at their bench, questioning if Goodrow had touched the puck with a excessive stick to start out the sequence. However the purpose stayed on the board.
Goodrow stated he by no means believed he struck the puck with a excessive stick. “No. Within the play, it by no means crossed my thoughts,” he stated.
Playoff success is nothing new for Goodrow. He was an important depth ahead on back-to-back Stanley Cup championship groups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He left the Bolts in July 2021 to signal a six-year free agent take care of the Rangers for $21.85 million.
After two seasons of double-digit targets, Goodrow’s offensive output slipped to 4 targets in 2023-24, his lowest whole in a full season since his rookie marketing campaign with the San Jose Sharks in 2014-15.
“It is humorous: When the puck’s not getting into, individuals sort of really feel like they’re by no means going to attain once more,” defenseman Adam Fox stated. “I’ve had that feeling, been by way of chilly stretches. Everybody needs to attain, however he is nonetheless going to do the opposite issues to assist us win. Our penalty kill has been big all yr and big within the playoffs. He performs in opposition to high traces. You by no means sense frustration when he is not scoring.”
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, who was stable in making 26 saves within the win, pushed again on the notion that Goodrow’s season was inconsistent.
“Possibly for you he is up and down,” he stated. “However for me, he is all the time on the highest.”
A few of Goodrow’s targets within the 2024 postseason have been important. He tallied a short-handed purpose that ended up being the winner in Recreation 3 of the Rangers’ first-round sweep of the Washington Capitals. He had the series-clinching empty-net purpose in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes in Recreation 6. Then got here Friday’s winner in opposition to the Panthers.
Goodrow was on the ice for that shift as a result of the Rangers wanted him to win a defensive zone faceoff, which he did.
“You see him take these defensive zone attracts on a regular basis,” Trouba stated. “It is truthfully a thankless job. He solely will get talked about if he loses them. When he wins them, which he does plenty of the time, no one ever talks about it.”
That is why Goodrow’s extra time purpose meant a lot to the Rangers. He is a grunt, a participant who does no matter is important to win however does not all the time get the headlines or the accolades.
“While you get a participant that may do every part, the place a coach can depend on that particular person, that is a fairly great tool within the toolbox,” Laviolette stated. “He takes faceoffs, performs all three ahead positions. You need him on the market on the finish of the sport. For those who’re successful a hockey sport, you may match him up in opposition to high traces. He brings physicality, brings management, brings plenty of qualities within our room. So once you get a participant like that, you respect it as a coach of all of the issues that he brings to the desk.”
Matt Rempe, the Rangers rookie who energized Madison Sq. Backyard along with his return to the lineup, stated Goodrow was a “16-win” sort of participant within the playoffs.
“Oh yeah. Goody’s that man,” Rempe stated. “Oh my gosh. That was unbelievable. That was an absolute snipe by him.”
Recreation 3 is Sunday afternoon in Dawn, Florida.