SUNRISE, Fla. — Evan Rodrigues smiled broad Monday night time when a Toronto columnist requested what he would have mentioned earlier than the Stanley Cup Remaining had he been informed two video games in that he’d be outscoring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, who mixed for 127 regular-season objectives.
“It’s fairly cool,” the Florida Panthers ahead mentioned, then shifting into wise-veteran mode and exhibiting some humility in not giving the Edmonton Oilers, down 0-2 within the best-of-seven championship sequence, further motivation going again residence.
“I’m not too anxious concerning the level totals or objectives. On the finish of the day, we’re searching for wins right here and, yeah, that’s all I care about. It’s good to contribute. It’s good to contribute to a win.”
The 30-year-old Rodrigues isn’t solely outscoring these three abilities 3-0 on the aim blotter two video games into the Remaining. He’s outscoring the 13 Oilers forwards who’ve dressed by the identical margin.
An undrafted participant out of Boston College enjoying on his fourth staff in 5 years, Rodrigues’ three objectives are tied for essentially the most in NHL historical past by way of a participant’s first two Cup Remaining video games. On Monday night time, in a 4-1 Florida victory throughout which Rodrigues scored a pair of third-period objectives, he turned the primary participant in Panthers historical past with a multi-goal recreation within the Remaining. His three objectives in two video games this sequence have matched his whole from Florida’s 17 video games within the first three rounds.
EVAN RODRIGUES GIVES THE PANTHERS THE LEAD 🚀 pic.twitter.com/WoDRxlpFMa
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 11, 2024
Rodrigues’ first aim — a snapshot after an Evan Bouchard turnover — got here three minutes into the third interval, breaking a 1-1 tie. It stood as Rodrigues’ first game-winning aim in 35 profession playoff video games. His second aim snapped Edmonton’s run of 34 consecutive penalty kills over 12 video games.
“So joyful for him, happy with him,” mentioned Matthew Tkachuk, whose line Rodrigues joined in the course of the Jap Convention ultimate sequence towards the New York Rangers. “Enjoying with him the previous few video games, he reads the sport so nicely. That’s two video games in a row scoring some huge objectives for us. He’s a brilliant good participant and I’m actually joyful to see him get rewarded proper now.”
Tkachuk believed Rodrigues’s influence in Recreation 2 went past his objectives. He performed regular hockey, moved his ft nicely and forechecked. The Panthers had greater than 70 % of the anticipated aim share with him on the ice at five-on-five, in response to Pure Stat Trick.
Rodrigues signed with the Buffalo Sabres out of faculty, however his breakout didn’t come till after the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for him. The Penguins handled early-season accidents in 2021-22, which led to Rodrigues getting extra alternative. He capitalized, scoring a career-high 19 objectives and 43 factors. Nonetheless, he didn’t land a long-term contract in free company, so he went to the Colorado Avalanche, then the defending champions, on a one-year, $2 million deal. He continued to show his price with the Avalanche, averaging a profession excessive in ice time (17:51 per recreation) and enjoying within the Avalanche’s high six.
“He’s tremendous underrated and might do lots of various things in lots of conditions,” mentioned Vegas Golden Knights ahead Jack Eichel, who performed with Rodrigues at Boston College and in Buffalo.
“The extra alternative he’s gotten over his profession, the higher he’s accomplished,” mentioned Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who credited Rodrigues with having the ability to play alongside high gamers. “I believe he’s actually snug in his personal pores and skin, is aware of what his strengths are.”
However an extended playoff run eluded Rodrigues earlier than this season. He was on the ice when Artemi Panarin eradicated the Penguins with a Spherical 1, Recreation 7 additional time winner in 2022. He was on the ice once more the subsequent yr as Colorado couldn’t discover an equalizer within the dying seconds of its Spherical 1, Recreation 7 loss to Seattle.
Rodrigues had by no means made it out of the primary spherical till becoming a member of the Panthers. He was so excited for the Stanley Cup Remaining to start out, he mentioned, that he wished Recreation 1 might have been a 1 p.m. begin.
Florida common supervisor Invoice Zito signed Rodrigues to a four-year, $3 million common annual worth contract final summer time — the longest, most profitable contract of the ahead’s profession. He’s confirmed to be definitely worth the dedication. After a 39-point common season — his third yr in a row with greater than 35 — he’s given the Panthers six objectives and 11 factors in 19 playoff video games.
“He’s a little bit of a chameleon,” mentioned Kyle Okposo, who additionally performed with Rodrigues in Buffalo. “In case you take a look at the groups that he’s performed on and who he’s performed with, it’s not a straightforward factor to go play with a few of the high gamers on the earth.
“He has a novel confidence about him the place at instances when guys are enjoying with these high guys, they only wish to give him the puck and get out of their method, and Evan is a man that he makes lots of performs and he has the arrogance to maintain it on a stick and make the fitting play on the proper time. And I believe that that’s why he’s had a lot success in all places he’s gone.”
EVAN RODRIGUES AGAIN 😱 pic.twitter.com/PC75upGTco
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 11, 2024
Monday night time was an instance of that. He began on the second line with Sam Bennett and Tkachuk, then was elevated to the highest line within the third interval with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart till Barkov obtained damage halfway by way of the interval.
Coach Paul Maurice has mentioned this postseason that he likes to play Carter Verhaeghe subsequent to Barkov in brief spurts of video games, however they often have an expiration date. Maurice noticed one thing throughout Recreation 2 that made him elevate Rodrigues.
Rodrigues went on what Maurice known as “a world tour of our lineup” all through the common season. Early on, the coach had him on Barkov’s line however thought he, understandably, was too deferential to his linemates. Now he’s discovered his recreation and might slot in wherever Florida wants.
“It’s one thing I’ve taken pleasure in my entire profession, having the ability to play up and down the lineup, energy play, penalty kill,” Rodrigues mentioned. “It’s good to contribute to wins. On the finish of the day, it doesn’t matter who it’s. … We’re searching for wins right here, and we’re pleased with the outcomes.”
When Rodrigues was on the Avalanche in 2022-23, he watched the staff increase its 2022 Stanley Cup banner forward of the season opener. Although Rodrigues wasn’t a part of the championship-winning staff, he felt chills as tribute movies performed and the banner rose into the rafters.
Now, largely due to his early sequence heroics, he’s two wins away from one other banner night time — this time one the place he’d be absolutely part of the celebration.
(Photograph: Bruce Bennett / Getty Photographs)