Are these two Stanley Cup playoff games in the second round the most entertaining so far?
In Game 2 of their series, the Hurricanes and Rangers went into double overtime, which resulted in some exciting back-and-forth play and a hilarious attempt by Jacob Trouba to strike Marty Necas before he crashed into the boards. That overtime saw Vincent Trocheck step up to the heroics, scoring his first game-winning playoff goal in 46 games.
you’re probably wondering how i got here photo.twitter.com/j489LjMuGW
— Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) May 8, 2024
The Avalanche overcame a three-point deficit against the Dallas Stars in the time it took me to compose this introduction. The overtime hero was Miles Wood, who scored his first-ever game-winning playoff goal in his 19 postseason appearances.But be ready for a lengthy game between those two clubs as the Stars have historically started from behind.
Odds are from BetMGM and update live. Buy tickets to see your favorite team on StubHub.
New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes — Game 3
How to watch: 7 p.m. ET on TNT, SN
Rangers lead series 2-0
Series odds: Rangers -300, Hurricanes +250
• Vincent Trocheck has scored goals in the playoffs for the past five games in a row. Trocheck has scored five goals and accumulated ten points in his last six outings.
• This is still Alexis Lafrenière’s breakthrough season. After six games this spring, he has already scored two goals in the playoffs. That is the same total of goals he scored in 20 postseason games from 2021–2022.
• In back-to-back playoff games, Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen has given up four goals. In the Canes’ first-round matchup against the New York Islanders, Andersen gave up 12 goals.
• Since May 11, 2022, when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jake Guentzel has not played in a two-goal playoff game. That game against the Rangers marked his first. The adversary? The Rangers from New York. Out of his eight postseason games with multiple goals, three have been against the Rangers.
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars — Game 2
How to watch: 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT, SN
Avalanche lead series 1-0
Series odds: Avalanche -210, Stars +170
• Following a two-point performance against the Stars in Game 1, Nathan MacKinnon extended his playoff point streak to seven games (three goals, twelve points).
• With five goals and eight points in eight playoff games this spring, Wyatt Johnston is continuing his fantastic postseason play. This playoffs, Johnston has scored goals in back-to-back playoff games twice.
• Since April 22, 2023, when he faced the Seattle Kraken, Mikko Rantanen has scored eight goals and totaled twenty points in his last eleven playoff games.
• In the opening game versus Colorado, Jamie Benn notched a goal and an assist. Retying Sergei Zubov for the second-most points in Stars postseason history will only take him five more points. In terms of the most Stars playoff goals, Benn is likewise three goals shy of second place.
(Photo of Miles Wood: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
