Russian winger Vladimir Tarasenko of the New York Rangers punched in a goal against the New Jersey Devils during the second game of the NHL playoff series, sealing a commanding 5-1 victory for New York. The win further cemented the Rangers’ momentum as the postseason home stretch unfolds, with the team showcasing sharp attack and disciplined defense that frustrated the Devils from early on.
Tarasenko now has 43 playoff goals in his career, placing him sixth all time among Russian players in league playoff scoring. The 31-year-old forward edged past Pavel Datsyuk and Vyacheslav Kozlov on the all-time Russian list, highlighting his knack for stepping up when the stakes are highest and underscoring his role as a trusted clutch scorer in big games.
At the top of the playoff scoring chart, Alexander Ovechkin sits with 72 goals, followed by Evgeni Malkin with 67, Nikita Kucherov at 53, Sergei Fedorov with 52, and Alexei Kovalev at 45, illustrating a rich lineage of Russian goal scorers who have made a lasting impact on the postseason landscape.
Thanks to the win, the New York Rangers widen their lead in the series to 2-0. The third game between these teams is slated for April 23, with a start time set for 3:00 Moscow time, signaling a potential shift in tempo as Toronto, New York, and other NHL markets tune in to the action.
In the opening matchup, the Rangers also triumphed 5-1, with Tarasenko contributing on the scoresheet by converting an empty-net opportunity, a moment that set the tone for the series and demonstrated the team’s ability to finish off opponents in the closing minutes.
Former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach John Cooper publicly discussed why Andrei Vasilevsky is regarded by many as one of the premier goaltenders in the world, underscoring the high-caliber netminders who are shaping this year’s postseason narrative.