Recap: Trocheck the OT Hero as Rangers Win 5-4 Over Wild on Steven McDonald Night

We may have exhausted the “most important game of the year” label but this was certainly the most exciting game of the year heading into it. In a lost season where there’s been a bit of a revolving door of cast members, yet another new skater would join this Rangers team. However, this one likely being the most exciting as it comes just days after former first round draft pick Gabe Perreault signed his entry-level contract with the New York Rangers. 

In addition to the NHL debut of Gabe Perreault, it was Steven McDonald Night at the Garden. Following a touching speech from Steven’s son Connor that made mention to Sam's upcoming retirement as well as the late Al Trautwig, Will Cuylle was named the recipient of the 37th annual Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award.

1st Period: 

Gabe Perreault wasted no time making an impact with his playmaking abilities as he found himself in a great position to shoot the puck but tried to make the pass for Alexis Lafrenière who was going a little too hard to the net on the right wing side. 

From that point on, the Rangers were completely dominating from the start, spending a ton of time in Minnesota’s end of the ice, out-shooting them 9-1 within the first seven minutes. 

Just over a minute and a half away from the midway point of the first, the Rangers took the first penalty of the night as Lafrenière got in the way of Vinnie Hinostraza upon entering the zone for interference. In an incredibly frustrating sequence, K’Andre Miller broke a stick on a block attempt. Adam Fox and Vincent Trocheck played patty cake with the puck instead of clearing it with purpose which resulted in the puck finding the back of the net. 

With all the Rangers penalty killers on one side of the ice, Zuccarello intercepted the weak clearing attempt and moved the puck to the center point. Marcus Johansson had all the time and space in the world to walk in and set up Gustav Nyquist with the back door pass to make it a 1-0 game. 

Thankfully, the Rangers wouldn’t be trailing long as they got right back to work after losing momentum on the power play goal. Brennan Othmann fed Artemi Panarin a nice pass but the effort from Panarin to protect the puck was even more impressive. After taking the puck up to the point, he fed Urho Vaakanainen for a one timer that Filip Gustavsson was able to save but the rebound came right out to Braden Schneider who fired it home, 1-1 game. 

Sure enough, just about two minutes later, Brock Faber ended up with the puck all alone at the point with the Rangers completely discombobulated defensively. Initially, it looked like the shot deflected off the stick of Zuccarello in front of the Shesterkin but it actually ended up going off the stick of Gabe Perreault who was attempting to get in the shooting lane. 2-1 Wild. 

The Rangers were out-shooting Minnesota 17-6 but were trailing in the game 2-1. How? Well, shortly after the second goal, Carson Soucy picked up the puck in the corner and proceeded to turn it over in such a painfully blatant manner that gave Johansson another Grade A scoring chance. Sure it’s nice to finally see this team shooting the puck but it’s meaningless when you’re a mess in your own end of the ice. 

That would do it for the first as the final tally on an uncharacteristically offensive period from the Rangers was 18-8 in their favor. The Rangers went 69% in the face-off circle and dominated possession for a majority of the period but trailed in high danger chances 3-2 and were behind in the expected goals for count as well.  

2nd Period:

The Rangers were back at it with the possession game and after three minutes, they were able to tie the game back up. K’Andre Miller pinched in a bit and one timed a rolling puck that sailed right over the shoulder of Gustavsson to make it a 2-2 score. 

With about twelve and a half to go in the second, a 2-on-2 battle for the puck in the corner ended up being thrown out by Devin Shore to find Declan Chishom beside Minnesota’s net. He somehow managed to fumble the puck off his own goaltenders pad which allowed for Kreider to pick it up and throw a backhander in to make it a 3-2 game. 

Soon after, Brennan Othmann was fed a perfect pass at the doorstep but was turned away by a great pad save. Othmann continued to starve for that first NHL goal and upon jamming for the potential rebound, several Wild skaters went after him which led to a spirited scrum behind the net. The Rangers got their first power play of the night as a result as Matt Boldy was awarded the only infraction. 

Of course, this worked against the Rangers favor as their power play continues to be a disaster. Trocheck had another abysmal turnover at center ice which sent Minnesota the other way with the puck. The Rangers couldn’t get the situation under control and Johansson ended up unbothered in the slot with time and space to fire a shot home, tying the game back up, this time 3-3. 

Minnesota nearly regained the lead about a minute and a half later as Zuccarello had a wide up net to shoot at. That happened as a result of Ryan Hartman colliding with Shesterkin which resulted in the officials calling it off for goaltender interference. From that moment on, it was nonstop action as the Wild spent an extended amount of time in the Rangers zone followed by some good chances the other way once they were finally able to change lines and regain the offensive zone. 

With 64 seconds to go in the period, K’Andre Miller did a great job of forcing a turnover from Matt Boldy. This allowed for Panarin to pick up the loose puck and go for a breakaway where he was able to beat Gustavsson with a clean shot to regain the lead, now 4-3. 

An excitable period to say the least as the Rangers tied the game, gained the lead, gave it up and regained it in the final minutes. Shots after two were 31-19 in favor of the Rangers who were now ahead in the high danger count as well as the scoreboard. Finding a way to channel all the excitement into a smart and effective third to close it out would be critical. 

3rd Period:

It only took 22 seconds for the Rangers to make a costly error. A bad decision by K’Andre Miller gave Marco Rossi the puck who sent it to Boldy down low. Boldy’s shot went off the crossbar but Rossi was right there to put it home, 4-4 game. 

Minnesota was playing a more defensive game which took a great deal of the energy and excitement in this game following their fourth goal. Nearing the midway point of the third, Will Cuylle was sent off for hooking Rossi to give Minnesota another power play. It wasn't easy, but the Rangers were killing off the advantage until Ryan Hartman was called for interference with 16 seconds left.

This briefly brought teams to 4-on-4 before Cuylle rejoined the ice to give the Rangers close to a full power play. A much better showing the second time around but still, the top unit had nothing to show for. Following a whistle, the second unit had a productive run as K'Andre Miller drew a tripping call to make it a brief 5-on-3 for the Rangers.

With no such luck on the big advantage, the most exciting chance came towards the end as Perreault had a one timer from just below the right hash mark. That's exactly what the Rangers need much more of on the power play, someone who will actually shoot the puck. They would get another crack at it with four minutes to go as Miller was tripped again, this time behind the Rangers' net.

The fourth power play attempt would arguably be their worst as the Rangers could not gain the zone, hold onto the puck, do literally anything aside from turning the puck over. With nothing to show for, the score remained unchanged and the teams headed to overtime.

Overtime:

It only took 24 seconds of extras for the Rangers to put an end to things. J.T. Miller won the face-off to be replaced by Vincent Trocheck. Trocheck entered the zone, fed Panarin and went right to the net where he would deflect the pass into the back of the net for a much needed extra point.

A big win on a special night for the Rangers as they are now tied with the Montreal Canadiens for that second wildcard spot but lose the tiebreaker and are behind by a game. Still an uphill battle in regards to playoffs but great to get a win in Perreault's debut as well as for Steven McDonald and his family.

The Rangers are back at it for another big game against their Hudson River Rivals Saturday afternoon.