Trouba’s massive hits highlight the chaotic Rangers Flames slugfest

It’s the new game of the 2022/23 season and it isn’t from anywhere.

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. After the first melee ended, Trouba was answered by Sammy Blais, who scored a big hit on the massive Milan Lucic. Then tempers flared once more.

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. He also continued that fight with his second fight (and victory) of the night.

Trouba was one of these men.

This angle is even absurder.

The Rangers took a 3-2 lead on the power play and moved into the third to add an additional element to the crazy sequence from Trouba.

However, the Flames didn’t give up, and they won their third contest comeback to tie the game at threes. Andrew Mangiapane’s controversial score of seven minutes into the third was deemed a good goal, after lengthy review. despite appearing to be kicked in.

Calgary rode that wave to take their first lead of night, just moments before Mika Zibanejad tied things up again. This set the scene for a fitting, chaotic end in overtime, as Alexis Lafreniere secured an amazing win for the Rangers, scoring his seventh goal of season.

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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