Vincent Trocheck scores game-winner as Rangers take Game 2 vs. Hurricanes in double OT

After the score was tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, Vincent Trocheck scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to give the Rangers a 4-3 victory in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers went on the power play after Brady Skjei was called for cross-checking. That game the Blueshirts the 5-on-4 advantage and led to the Trocheck game-winning goal.

Tuesday’s game was the longest NHL game of the 2024 postseason.

Carolina left-winger Jake Guentzel registered two goals. Center Sebastian Aho recorded three points, all on assists for the Hurricanes.

Rangers left winger Alexis Lafreniere also scored two goals. Artemi Panarin chipped in two assists, including on Chris Kreider‘s power-play goal early in the third period, which tied the game at 3-3.

Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen stopped 32 of 35 shots. He allowed four goals in Game 1, including Artemi Panarin‘s game-winner in the third period.

Conversely, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin allowed three goals on 49 shots. However, two of them were tipped in.

Shesterkin was a big reason the Rangers tied the game and went into overtime. Late in the game, on a Rangers power play, the Hurricanes appeared to have a short-handed opportunity, but Shesterkin stopped Seth Jarvis‘ shot on a 2-on-1 chance. He then used his pad to stop a Jalen Chatfield goal attempt after allowing Sebastian Aho to rebound the puck.

Entering Tuesday’s game, Shesterkin allowed a 2.00 goals against average this postseason. 18 shots were taken in the first overtime period, but both Andersen and Shesterkin were stalwarts.

During the final minute of the third period, with the Rangers on a power play, after Skjei was called for a tripping call, ESPN shockingly went to the start of the Avalanche versus Stars game. The network later corrected the mistakes after about 20 seconds.

The Hurricanes special teams were the big story during Game 1. Carolina was 0 for 5 on power play chances against the Rangers, and the power play continued to be the Hurricanes’ Achilles heel after going 0 for 5 in Game 2.

Neither team was especially good on special teams during the first 40 minutes. The Rangers and Hurricanes were a combined 0 for 6 on power plays during the first two periods.

Carolina was especially its own worst enemy on the power play. Twice, the Hurricanes had a man advantage only to commit a penalty.

Carolina had a power play chance when Will Cuylle was whistled for goalie interference (5:16). But just like in the first game of the series, the Hurricanes came away empty-handed.

During the second period, the Hurricanes had a 5-to-4 advantage following Jacob Trouba’s tripping penalty. However, their third power play chance was wiped away after Jake Guentzel punched Adam Fox (9:47) in front of the officials and was sent to the penalty box.

Following the penalty, former Rangers and current Hurricanes defenseman Tony DeAngelo was caught on ESPN cameras saying to Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller, “I’ll fight you anytime.” 

The Rangers capitalized on one of their six power-play chances on Kreider’s goal in the second.

In the Rangers’ fifth five wins of the playoffs, they scored eight power-play goals. That is second to only the Oilers who have nine.

Just like in Game 1, both teams exhibited physical play and they found the net in the first period.

With 10:53 elapsed in the opening period, Alexis Lafreniere scored the first goal of the game with a wrist shot. Miller and Alex Wennberg helped set up the goal on the assist.

Carolina answered 15:07 through the first period after Guentzel scored his second goal of the playoffs. Then, on a 4-on-4 opportunity with six seconds left in the period, Dmitry Orlov‘s tip on a long shot gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead and their first lead of the series.

The Blueshirts tied the game 2-2 in the second period (7:32) after Fox’s beautiful pass to Lafrenière, who buried the puck in the net for his second goal of the night.

Carolina regained the lead at 3-2 (18:18) through the second period on Guentzel’s second goal of the night.

At 5:22 into the third period, Orlov was called for tripping. The Rangers capitalized on the penalty, and Kreider scored his third goal of the playoffs on a rebound after Andersen failed to grab the puck.

Hurricanes center Evgeny Kuznetsov (undisclosed) was scratched from Tuesday’s game against the Rangers. Max Comtois took his place and took some shots with the fourth line during the pre-game. Tuesday was Comtois’ 2024 postseason debut and he played on the Hurricanes’ fourth line. 

Carolina signed Comtois to a one-year contract in March. He previously played for the Chicago Wolves (AHL), where he recorded 28 points in 45 games.

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour initially told reporters pre-game that he didn’t anticipate any lineup changes for Game 2. Kuznetsov played in the previous six postseason games for the Hurricanes and has two goals and two assists.

Game 3 of the second-round series will shift to the PNC Arena in Raleigh. The puck is expected to drop at 7 p.m.