The New York Rangers have now taken the driver's seat in their Eastern Conference finals series in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs after beating the Florida Panthers via overtime (again) on Sunday.
The Rangers found themselves in a hole early in Game 3 with Panthers star Sam Reinhart lighting the lamp just a little under three minutes into the contest with Florida on the man advantage. However, New York was able to respond with back-to-back goals in the same period from Alexis Lafreniere and Game 2 hero Barclay Goodrow before Reinhart struck again with a goal on the power play to close out the scoring in the first frame.
In the second period, Lafreniere and Goodrow each found the back of the net again while the Rangers kept Florida scoreless to go up 4-2 before intermission. The Panthers showed their resiliency in the third period where they tied the game with their own 2-0 salvo off of goals from Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling to send the game into overtime. Rangers center Alex Wennberg put an end to the crazy game with a goal just a little over five minutes in extra time off of the assists from Ryan Lindgren and Jack Roslovic to give New York the 5-4 victory — and the 2-1 lead in the series.
For those keeping count, the Rangers' Game 3 win was the sixth time in the 2024 NHL playoffs that they were able to win a game after giving up the contest's first goal, as noted by the official X (the social media platform known as Twitter) account of the NHL Public Relations.
“The @NYRangers earned their sixth comeback win of the 2024 #StanleyCup Playoffs and matched a franchise record for most in a playoff year, set in 1974.”
In addition to that, the Rangers are also now undefeated in four overtimes in the 2024 playoffs. It can be recalled that New York scored two overtime victories in the second round of the playoffs versus the Carolina Hurricanes.
In addition to that, the Rangers are also now undefeated in four overtimes in the 2024 playoffs. It can be recalled that New York scored two overtime victories in the second round of the playoffs versus the Carolina Hurricanes. They are an overtime win away from breaking the single-postseason record for most wins in such a setting in franchise history, per the NHL Public Relations.
“Alex Wennberg scored the winner as the @NYRangers completed the comeback win and improved to 4-0 in the extra frame this postseason, tied with 2015 (4-1) for their most overtime victories in a playoff year.”
The Rangers can consider themselves lucky to have come away with a win in Game 3, as they were dominated in the possession battle by the Panthers, who were plus-14 in terms of shots on goal. Moreover, the Panthers are way ahead in the series when it comes to even-strength Corsi for percentage (57.58%) and even-strength expected goals rate (55.73%), per Natural Stat Trick.
Fans react to Alex Wennberg's game-winner, Rangers Game 3 victory
“THATS NEW YORK RANGERS HOCKEY LETS GOOO”
“Proud of the lads. Well played and special thank you to Shesterkin for keeping us in the game. #NYR”
“LET’S GO🔥🔥 we are DEADLY in OT”
“Way to go Rangers . I have no more fingernails and it’s only ECF Game 3 lol . We need to tighten up behind the goal D – they have exposed a big weakness. Carolina didn’t take advantage of it. Panthers see it. LFGR – great win”
“We had lots of luck. Congrats Alex. Now fix the D for next game.”
“Most unlikely player to score , Igor was ahead of him scoring a game winner.”
“WHEN YOU DON'T PLAY AS WELL AS YOU SHOULD AND STILL WIN!! LET'S GOOOOOO.”
“Good strategy, but I like the one where we win 4-2 😅. I’ll take this though!”
Follow Us
Subscribe