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Once upon a time, Long Island’s Adam Fox was the only defenseman in NHL history to win the Norris Trophy before playing in an official NHL playoff game.
That was in 2021.
Now the 24-year-old has played in 14 of them this postseason — and the playoff drama seems to suit the Jericho native just fine. Even in two Game 7s.
He’s become used to the pressure.
“Backs against the wall five times now,” Fox said, “and we’ve come through all five.”
Fox was hot in the latest Game 7, helping his Rangers defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 Monday night in Raleigh.
Fox scored the first goal of the night as the Rangers’ first period power play was coming to an end. Watch it below.
ADAM FOX. POWER PLAY GOAL. RANGERS LEAD.#StanleyCup | #NoQuitInNY pic.twitter.com/yEAfwqYVtm
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 31, 2022
He then assisted on the Rangers’ second goal, again on the power play courtesy of Chris Kreider. See it here:
Fox is currently on a five-game point streak and finished the second round against the Canes with two goals and six assists. The star defenseman has 18 points and a plus-2 rating through 14 playoff games and has added 31 blocked shots. He also leads all NHL defenseman in points this postseason.
In the Rangers first round series win over Pittsburgh, Fox became the first player in franchise history to record a point in all seven games of a series, according to NYR Stats & Info. He’s the fourth defenseman in league history to achieve that feat. He recorded three goals and seven assists. His final assist in that series was a game-winning pass to Artemi Panarin who scored the overtime winner in Game 7.
Now the Rangers get ready to face the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Blueshirts will look to avenge their last ECF trip; it was back in trip in 2015 when they lost 4-3 to the Lightning.
This year, the Rangers have swept the season series against Tampa, winning all three games. In those contests, Fox had three assists.
The series begins this Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
Top: New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) and Carolina Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck (16) compete for the puck during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Friday, May 20, 2022, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
