Another night, another hero. That has been the theme of the 2023-24 New York Rangers season. This team plays through the ups and downs and finds a way to win as well as any I have watched in any sport. It should really come as no surprise that after a disappointing loss in game one of the Eastern Conference Final, they bounced back and earned a hard fought 2-1 OT win to tie the series. Friday night’s contest under the pin wheel ceiling was one of the best hockey games I have watched in my 14 years of watching the sport as both teams played a physical playoff style, while trading chances against two brilliant goalies. On a night where both teams star players couldn’t quite get pucks to go, despite their best efforts, the winner was always going to come from someone a little more random…cue Barclay Goodrow.

This of course isn’t Goodrow’s first clutch playoff goal in his career, but it is his biggest yet as it saved the Rangers from falling into a 2-0 hole in the Conference Final. His wicked snipe beat Sergei Bobrovsky up high, something that seemed unlikely without a screen all night long, and as the puck rattled the net, I think the entire New York Metro area lost its mind. It wasn’t an easy regular season for number 21 as he struggled to find his game, especially in the middle of the season following a grizzly injury to his jaw. The often-maligned grinder, for contractual reasons that is, only scored four goals in the regular season, though that isn’t his job on a team that isn’t starved for offense. Instead, his 3.6 million per season is set aside for times like these where he thrives in the heat of playoff hockey. Sure enough the club is getting the return on their investment this spring as he has four goals in 12 playoff games and none bigger than Friday’s.

Let’s talk about the man who is seemingly talked about to the point of overkill (through no fault of his own) Matt Rempe. In the 48 or so hours since the Blueshirts game one loss, calls for Rempe to rejoin the lineup came from all over the place as Ranger beat writers and alumni alike made their case for number 73 to get involved. Whether Peter Laviolette heeded those calls or made the move of his own volition is irrelevant as it wound up being the right button to push. Not because of some unquantifiable intangible that the big guy brought to the ice, but because for what I would say was the third time in this uniform, Rempe actually played a very strong game and earned extra minutes tonight. Friday night’s contest was probably his best as a pro, which he took great pride in and expressed that in his postgame comments where he praised his teammates and the MSG faithful while tossing in his now signature offbeat humor.

I fully admit I didn’t think putting Rempe in was the right idea, as I didn’t think the Rangers needed to make a lineup change after a game one outing where the team lacked sharpness, not energy. They were too sloppy to sustain pressure in the series opener and were unlucky offensively as they hit the post several times and had the puck cleared off the goal line. I didn’t see how Rempe would solve that, not on his own that is. The team’s record of 21-3-1 with Rempe in the lineup is often shared as a case for him to play, although as Ray Ferraro put it, “that doesn’t have a ton to do with him, but he can be a factor.” To Rempe’s credit last night, he found a way to be a factor and stepped up in the absence of the injured Jimmy Vesey. Sprinkle some Rempe on top of a strong all-around game from the Blueshirts and you have to like their odds on most nights.

While pretty much every Ranger had a strong game on Friday, I’d be remiss if I didn’t highlight the play of Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere. Their entire line was strong as they along with Artemi Panarin created several of the Rangers best chances in the game. Lafreniere has continued his yearlong growth in these playoffs by playing with a real edge in these games, as evidenced by the big hit he throws on Carter Verhaeghe that sets up Fox to feed Trocheck for the goal. The scrum that ensued while MSG roared with the goal song was a nice touch as well. Trocheck wound up two points of his own on the night, with the opening goal of the game and the primary assist on Goodrow’s game winner as his MVP level play continues.

Game two was the second time this postseason the Rangers stared into the abyss and didn’t blink, the other of course being the third period of game six in Raleigh. A loss last night probably would have doomed them to crashing out to the Panthers in this series, but they never blinked and found a way to win as they have all year. Now the series shifts to “MSG South” (BB&T Center in Sunrise) where it will surely remain tightly contest. It feels like we are watching the two best teams left right now and it’s a real treat, despite the stress it takes to watch. At least now we can enjoy a beautiful Memorial Day Saturday off the back of another thrilling victory. So pop a cold one, have some fun with friends and family and get a good night’s sleep…the stress begins again tomorrow at 3 PM.

You can find me on Twitter @YNWA9623 and subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. We have also launched a podcast which carries the same name as the Instagram account. Check out our new mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! Coach Ed and Little Ed were in the building Friday night and described the experience of the OT winner on last night’s recap special, check it out! We’ll be back with more soon!