Kaapo Kakko returned to the New York Rangers lineup. However, it was Rangers’ unexpected heroes such as Barclay Goodrow who stole the spotlight.
Micke Suopuro,
Samu Saatsi
The New York Rangers clinched a spot in the finals of the NHL’s Eastern Conference, defeating the Florida Panthers in the third game in overtime with 5–4 goals. He scored the winning goal after five minutes of extra time Alexander Wennberg with his guidance.
In turn, the hero of Rangers’ regular game time was the winger of the four chain Barclay Goodrow, which decided the teams’ previous match in overtime. This time Goodrow scored twice.
Instead, Florida’s captain was responsible for the most spectacular performance of the match already in the opening set Alexander Barkov. The Finn continued the puck with his skates to Vladimir Tarasenko, who got to the crime scene. A goal did not result from the situation, but the situation gave a good indication of the Finnish star’s game intelligence.
See the situation in the video that is the main image of this article.
This is how the match went
Kaapo Kakko returned to the Rangers lineup. The Finn was able to shoot towards Florida’s goal right in the first minute of the game.
However, Florida scored the opening goal. Sam Reinhart hit with an upper hand from Barkov’s preliminary work.
The Rangers responded quickly. The set didn’t even make it to the halfway mark, when the visitors led the match 2–1 Alexis Lafreniere and Barclay Goodrow with a goal. Goodrow, the roller of the four chain, already scored his fifth goal in these playoffs. In the regular season, he hit only four times in 80 games.
However, Florida tied the game before the end of the opening set when Matt Rempen jähy backfired. Reinhart completed the second overtime goal of the set for Florida.
The latter half of the second period was pitch black for the home team. Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere and Barclay Goodrow both hit for the second time in the match. On top of that, Goodrow’s goal came with understrength. The goal was Rangers’ fifth underpowered goal in the spring playoffs.
If the previous set ended terribly for Florida, the third set started wonderfully. First, captain Barkov brought his team to the front of the goal and soon after this Gustav Forsling tied the match. Finnish defender Niko Mikkola got an assist on Barkov’s narrow goal.
However, a solution did not emerge during actual game time. However, extra time didn’t last more than five minutes when Wennberg took over by Ryan Lindgren shot at the Florida goal.
The teams will meet next time early Wednesday morning Finland time, again on Florida’s home field.
Conference finals results and situations
GAME 3: Florida Panthers–New York Rangers
02.50 Sam Reinhart (Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk) 1–0
07.17 Alexis Lafreniere (Vincent Trochek, Jakob Trouba) 1–1
07.42 Barclay Goodrow (Braden Schneider, Will Cuylle) 1–2
14.46 Sam Reinhart (Carter Verhaeghe) 2–2
15.23 Alexis Lafreniere (K’Andre Miller) 2–3
18.14 Barclay Goodrow (Vincent Trochek, Ryan Lindgren) 2–4
05.04 Aleksander Barkov (Nick Verhaeghe, Niko Mikkola) 3–4
06.58 Gustav Forsling (Matthew Tkachuk, Evan Rodrigues) 4–4
1. JE:
05.35 Alexander Wennberg (Ryan Lindgren, Jack Roslovic) 4–5
Wins 2–1 for Rangers. Advances to the Stanley Cup finals with four wins.
GAME 2: Dallas Stars–Edmonton Oilers 3–1
03.39 Jamie Benn (Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen) 1–0
04.23 Connor Brown (Cody Ceci, Warren Foegele) 1–1
43.41 Mason Marchment (Ryan Suter, Sam Steel) 2–1
57.57 Esa Lindell (Jamie Benn, Johnston) 3–1 tm.
Wins tied 1–1. Advances to the Stanley Cup finals with four wins.