Barclay Goodrow joins legendary Rangers company with Game 2 OT winner vs. Panthers

NHL

By Ethan Sears

Instead of Matteau, Matteau, Matteau, it was Goodrow, Goodrow, Goodrow. 

Nearly 30 years to the day, on another Memorial Day weekend, it was Barclay Goodrow ending a conference final game in overtime, skating in off the rush and unleashing a snap shot for a 2-1 victory over the Panthers that stopped it from getting late early for the Rangers in this series. 

It wasn’t Game 7.

But only one team in conference final history has ever come back after losing the first two games at home, and that was the 1945 Red Wings, back when it was the semifinals and not the conference final.

So make no mistake, this was the Rangers fighting for their lives. 

And it is every bit fitting that Goodrow — who did, once upon a time, end a Game 7 in overtime on his stick, for the Sharks in the 2019 first round against Vegas — was the hero. 

“He’s been so important to the locker room, the leadership group, a lot of stuff that nobody ever sees or talks about,” captain Jacob Trouba said. “He’s a massive part of this team and the way he’s been playing in the playoffs, it’s a big reason. He’s one of those guys that gets teams to win, as he’s shown in his career. 

“For him to get rewarded like that, it’s awesome. He’s a big-time player. He shows up in big-time games.” 

Want to understand how Goodrow has elevated his game in the playoffs?

He has as many postseason goals (4) and as many postseason points (12) as he did in 80 regular-season games. 

Want to understand it further?

Goodrow was 10-of-13 at the faceoff dot Friday night — likely a big reason Peter Laviolette was comfortable with two-thirds of his fourth line on the ice for a defensive zone draw 13:35 into overtime with the season on a knife’s edge. 

“Don’t really remember how it went in,” Goodrow said. “I just remember [Vincent Trocheck] made a great pass to me and [Will Cuylle] was driving the net, opening the lane. It was a great play by those two.” 

It was a play from Goodrow that will go down in Rangers lore if this team reaches the promised land.

The 31-year-old was brought in three years ago at the low cost of a seventh-round pick to bring a winning edge to the bottom six, having been a part of back-to-back titles with the Lightning. 

Follow The Post’s coverage of the Rangers in the NHL playoffs

That is exactly what he has done, in ways big and small. 

“When you get a player who can do everything, where a coach can rely on that person, that’s a pretty useful tool in the toolbox,” Laviolette said. “He takes faceoffs, plays all three forward positions. You want him out there at the end of the game. If you’re winning a hockey game, you can match him up against top lines. Brings physicality, brings leadership, brings a lot of qualities inside of our room, great teammate.“So when you get a player like that, you appreciate it as a coach, all the things he brings to the table.

“To see him score a goal like that is awesome because his role doesn’t always consist of that. It’s not always in the offensive zone.” 

As Friday night turned to Saturday morning, though, that’s exactly where he was. 

Goodrow, Goodrow, Goodrow.