Ranger’s Barclay Goodrow makes a huge play in overtime: Fantastic

Barclay Goodrow, a centre with the New York Rangers, scored four goals in 80 regular-season games. He has only needed to play 12 playoff games to match that mark, thanks to his game-winning overtime goal on Friday that allowed the Rangers to tie the series against the Florida Panthers at one.
Goodrow said, “I don’t know — I just try to bring my best game, every night,” when questioned about his offensive surge in the playoffs. “It feels good whenever you can do something to help the team.”

Goodrow’s colleagues were delighted with their teammate’s work ethic and that one of the Rangers’ unsung heroes was able to enjoy his playoff debut in the 2-1 win.
He’s one of those people that makes winning teams win. Captain Jacob Trouba described him as a “big-time player who shows up in big-time games.”
Coach Peter Laviolette said, “To see him score a goal like tonight is awesome, because his role doesn’t always consist of that.” “When you see somebody who does so many other things that helps the team be successful, you’re really happy for a guy like that when you see him make a huge impact on the game.”
In overtime, Goodrow scored at 14:01. The action began when defenseman Jacob Trouba sent an outlet pass from the Rangers’ defensive zone, which Goodrow intercepted close to centre ice with his stick. As linemate Will Cuylle drove to the goal in search of a potential rebound, he transferred the puck to teammate Vincent Trocheck, who then delivered an aerial pass back to Goodrow in the Panthers’ zone.
“I guess I don’t really remember exactly how it went in, but I just remember Troch made a great pass to me,” said Goodrow. “Cools was clearing the lane by driving the net. Therefore, the two’s play was excellent.”
For the winning goal, Goodrow sent a shaky puck past Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (28 saves).
“I dislike discussing the objectives. He just shoots and scores “Said Bobrovsky. “It is what it is, really. Hockey between two strong squads. They have a nice victory.”
The Panthers paused at their bench, wondering whether Goodrow had touched the puck with a high stick to start the process while the Rangers surrounded him on the ice in front of a jubilant Madison Square Garden crowd. But the objective remained written down.
Goodrow stated he never thought he used a high stick to hit the puck. “Not at all. I never thought about it in the play,” he said.
Goodrow is used to winning in the playoffs. He was an essential depth forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2020 and 2021. In July 2021, he signed a $21.85 million, six-year free agency contract with the Rangers, after leaving the Bolts.
Goodrow’s offensive production dropped to only four goals in 2023–24, his lowest total in a complete season since his debut campaign with the San Jose Sharks in 2014–15, after two seasons of double-digit goals.
“It’s funny: When the puck’s not going in, people kind of feel like they’re never going to score again,” Adam Fox, the defender, said. “I’ve had such feelings before—cold spells. He will continue to do the other things to help us win even if everyone wants to score. We have had an outstanding penalty kill this year and throughout the playoffs. He faces strong opposition. He never seems frustrated when he doesn’t score.”
Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers goaltender, refuted the idea that Goodrow’s season was uneven, with a strong 26 saves in the victory.
He added, “Maybe he’s up and down for you.” “But for me, he’s always on the top.”
Goodrow has scored several noteworthy goals in the 2024 postseason. He scored the game-winning shorthanded goal in Game 3 of the Rangers’ first-round series victory against the Washington Capitals. In Game 6, he scored the empty-net goal that sealed the series against the Carolina Hurricanes. The winning game versus the Panthers on Friday followed.
During that shift, Goodrow was on the ice because the Rangers needed him to win a faceoff in the defensive zone, which he accomplished.
“You see him take those defensive zone draws all the time,” Trouba said. It really is an unappreciated job. Talk about him only happens after he loses them. Nobody ever speaks about it when he wins them, which he does often.”
That’s why the Rangers were so emotional over Goodrow’s overtime goal. He’s a grunt, a player who grinds out a victory even if it’s not always reflected in the media or wins awards.
“When you get a player that can do everything, where a coach can rely on that person, that’s a pretty useful tool in the toolbox,” Laviolette said. “He plays all three forward positions and accepts faceoffs. At the end of the game, you want him out there. You may match him up against elite lines if you’re winning the hockey match. He adds a lot of attributes into our room, including leadership and aggressiveness. Consequently, as a coach, you value all that a player like that brings to the table.”
In the postseason, Goodrow is a “16-win” sort of guy, according to Matt Rempe, the rookie Rangers player who energised Madison Square Garden by coming back into the starting lineup.
“Yes, exactly. “That guy is Goody,” Rempe said. “Oh my god. That was really amazing. He really took a snipe with that one.”
In Sunrise, Florida, on Sunday afternoon is Game 3.

More in Sports: https://buzzing.today/sports/
Photo Credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/