Goodrow sends Rangers to Game 2 win, 2-1, in OT Goodrow wrister wins it in OT

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In New York, the rangers were in need of a solid, all around game, on Friday night.

They got it with a 2-1 win over the Panthers in extra time.

After being shut out in Game 1, and losing home ice, the Rangers wee in no mood to head to Sunrise down 2-0.

Barclay Goodrow potted the game winner at 14:01 of the extra session, scoring off a wicked wrister from the edge of the left circle through a screen by a Panthers defenseman.

“I don’t really remember exactly how it went in,” Goodrow said. “I just remember Trocheck made a great pass to me and [Will Cuylle] was driving to the net, opening up the lane, so it was a great play by those two … It feels good, I think, whenever you can do something to help your team. Obviously, I think we played a pretty good game tonight, and it was nice to get rewarded with the win.”

Vincent Trocheck had the primary assist, with Jacob Trouba picking up the secondary.

“Everybody knows what he brings to the team,” Trocheck said of Goodrow. “Every night, he’s going to bring the same game. We use him in all different situations. … In these playoffs, he’s been outstanding for us on both ends of the ice.”

The play started in the Rangers zone.

It was Goodrow’s fourth goal of the playoffs.

“I thought it was a pretty competitive game both ways,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said. “I did like our game better and we end up getting a big overtime goal to move in. You definitely feel a lot better going down to Florida 1-1 than 0-2, and so it was a big win for us.”

Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves in the win.

Trocheck staked the Rangers to a 1-0 lead at 4:12 of the opening stanza. He converted a nifty pass from Adam Fox from the right side of the slot, and an easy tap in on the left post.

“In overtime, you’re just looking for that one,” Fox said. “… You know how big of a goal it is to make the series 1-1 rather than 2-0. It’s massive and you’re excited to see that one go in.”

The goal ignited the Madison Square Garden fans.

“It got the building going, that was big,” the Rangers’ Jacob Trouba said. “Obviously a huge start. We wanted to get the first goal. They battled back and it was a tight game, and that’s what we’re going to expect every game in the series.”

The goal celebration was cut short by a mugging of several Rangers including Alexis Lafreniere.

“Obviously it’s tough to lose in overtime, but at the end of the day [we went] 1-1 in their building,” the Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad said. “They came out really, really explosive tonight and that’s what we expected. We lost a really tight game. We’ll move on. We have a quick turnaround.”

Carter Verhaeghe knotted the game at 1-1, at 18:09 of the first, scoring off a power play.”They got one (goal), but it was a good response,” Verhaeghe said. “To go into the second tied, the game was there [but] they came out on top. … I think that’s what happens when you get the two best teams in the conference. … It’s going to be a battle.”

Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves  in the loss.

“We didn’t expect to win every game,” Verhaeghe said. “They came out strong. We got the split. We go home and refocus.”

The Rangers Jimmy Vesey was injured on a check from behind by Ryan Lomberg in the middle frame.