RALEIGH, N.C. — The Rangers’ special teams aren’t just clicking on all cylinders right now, they’re showing up in big moments.
The power play and penalty kill have allowed the Blueshirts to separate themselves from their first two opponents in the playoffs.
Through four games against the Capitals and the first two against the Hurricanes, the Rangers have swung the special teams battle in their favor in convincing fashion.
Game 2 Tuesday night against the Hurricanes was no different, with the power play notching a game-tying goal in the third period and the game-winning goal in double-overtime.
“I think we’re confident for sure,” Vincent Trocheck said after scoring the game-winner. “I think we do expect to score. Obviously, it’s not going to happen every single time. We feel like as a unit, the team relies on us to score on the power play. Especially so far this playoffs, special teams have been so big. Power play, penalty kill are huge in these games. We know we’re relied on a lot, and there’s a lot of pressure in that. When we have this confidence, this rhythm, we just want to try to keep doing the same things to keep it going.”
The power play has recorded four go-ahead goals — two from Mika Zibanejad, one from Trocheck and one from Jack Roslovic — and two game-winning goals — one from Artemi Panarin and the other from Trocheck.
The penalty kill generated two shorthanded game-winning scores in Round 1, from K’Andre Miller in Game 2 Barclay Goodrow in Game 3 in Washington.
Chris Kreider was the one to net the equalizing man-advantage tally in Game 2 Tuesday night.
That’s nine goals from special teams that had an immense impact on the outcome of a postseason game.
“That part of the game is going well right now,” captain Jacob Trouba said of the power play. “Obviously, that can change. We’d like it to stay this way, but I don’t think you can rely on it or want to win games strictly that way. I think we generated a decent amount five-on-five, but when you win the special teams’ battle, I think that’s proven to be a key part of NHL hockey.”
The Rangers were off Wednesday as they ventured to Raleigh for Games 3 and 4 of their second-round series against the Hurricanes.
