Barclay Goodrow scores in OT as Rangers tie series vs. Panthers

Field Level Media|published: Fri 24th May, 23:57 2024

May 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) shoots the puck as Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) defends during the second period in game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK -- Barclay Goodrow scored 14:01 into overtime and the New York Rangers beat the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Friday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final.

Goodrow won it by putting a shot from near the right circle over the stick of Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky after getting a clean cross-ice pass from Vincent Trocheck.

The series, which resumes Sunday in Sunrise, Fla., is tied at one game apiece after Florida earned a 3-0 win Wednesday.

Trocheck scored New York's first goal of the series early in the first period and Carter Verhaeghe scored the tying goal on a power play late in the first.

Bobrovsky made 28 saves.

New York's Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 shots.

The Rangers started with significantly increased physicality and it eventually led to a 1-0 lead at 4:12 of the opening period.

Trocheck's pass from the left boards was briefly intercepted by Verhaeghe in the slot. Verhaeghe lost the puck on a hard check by Alexis Lafreniere. Adam Fox gained possession at the right side of the crease and dished the puck to Trocheck at the left side for the tap-in into the vacated side of the net.

Florida saw its level of play improve toward the latter half of the period. Nearly a minute into Goodrow's interference penalty, Verhaeghe cashed in.

The Panthers kept the puck alive and Verhaeghe's shot from between the circles went past a screened Shesterkin and into the slightly vacated right side of the net.

Shesterkin kept the score tied during a span of 5:29 without a whistle by making a stick save on a partial breakaway by Brandon Montour with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the second period. Florida nearly went ahead with 2:48 left but Aleksander Barkov hit the post off a give-and-go.

Barkov nearly scored during a four-on-four but Shesterkin came out of the crease for the stop a little over a minute into the third. Sam Reinhart also nearly scored but his shot hit the side of the net with 10:13 left in the third. A little over two minutes later, Shesterkin denied a wrister by Ryan Lomberg.

--Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media

Latest