Trouba’s massive hits highlight the chaotic Rangers Flames slugfest

A new contender has emerged for the game of 2022-23 season.

Goals, big saves, playoff intensity, enormous hits, fights and sheer chaos, Monday’s Rangers-Flames thriller had absolutely everything a hockey fan could want — especially for a Monday game in early February between two non-conference opponents the day after the All-Star break.

Rangers captain Jacob Trouba set the physical tone with just under six minutes left in the opening frame, absolutely dismantling Flames forward Dillon Dube with a monstrous open ice hit before dropping the mitts with Chris Tanev — and scoring a win in the bout — immediately after the collision.

Trouba’s huge check and the subsequent scrap set off an avalanche of chaos over the next two-plus periods. Three minutes into the first melee, Trouba’s enormous check and the subsequent scrap were overturned by Sammy Blais. He scored a huge hit on the gigantic Milan Lucic, before the tempers flared again.

The second period was a lot tamer than many would’ve anticipated after that raucous opening frame, but that all changed with just under a minute left when Nazem Kadri — who’s dealt out his fair share of punishment over the years — cut to the middle of the ice before getting absolutely crushed by Trouba in what has to be the hit of the season so far. The Rangers’ bulking blueliner followed that up with his second fight (and the decision) of night.

Trouba was this man’s possession.

This angle is absurd even more.

To add value to the insane sequence by Trouba, the Rangers won the power play that followed.

However, the Flames were not going away. They completed their third comeback in the contest to tie the game at threes with a controversial score from Andrew Mangiapane just seven minutes into third. This was called a good goal following a long review. despite appearing to be kicked in.

Calgary rode the wave and took the lead just seconds later. Mika Zibanejad tied the score once more, setting the stage for a fitting, chaotic ending in overtime. Alexis Lafreniere scored his seventh goal of this season to secure a wild win.

Filip Chytil and Zibanejad —who got the primary assist on Lafreniere’s OT winner — were also huge for New York in this one, each scoring twice while combing for 12 shots on goal.

You got it? It’s a real doozy.

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