Jacob Trouba Nearly Beheaded Hurricanes Player, Then Himself, In Rangers Win

Almost everything has gone right for the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so far. They swept the Washington Capitals in the first round and just took a 2-0 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the NHL postseason. 

There is one slight problem, though, and his name is Jacob Trouba. Trouba is the Rangers captain and a very important piece to the team. He's a talented player but also a key enforcer. 

The issue is that he can't stay out of the penalty box. Trouba took three penalties in the Rangers' 4-3 thrilling double-OT victory over Carolina on Tuesday night. He's tied for the NHL lead with six minor penalties in the playoffs, and he's only played six games. 

But, it actually could have been a lot worse. During the first overtime period, Trouba attempted to lay a massive hit on Hurricanes forward Martin Necas. Necas saw Trouba coming and ducked out of the way. 

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba took a run at Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas in the Stanley Cup playoffs during NHL action Tuesday night.

(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Trouba, still trying to hit a ducking Necas, threw out his elbow and aimed directly at Necas' head. Fortunately, his elbow missed Necas completely. Unfortunately for Trouba, he rammed his own head straight into the boards. And unfortunately for Necas, Trouba's skate clocked him in the back of the head when he hit the ice. 

There's no question that if Trouba had connected with Necas' head, the defenseman would have been looking at a five-minute major penalty, a game-misconduct and a likely multi-game suspension. 

This isn't the time of year that teams want their captains to sit out multiple games. Plus, if Trouba had taken a major penalty there, who knows how the game would have ended? Carolina would have had five minutes with a man-advantage in overtime, needing one goal to even the series. 

That would have put New York in a disastrous spot. After the game, reporters asked Necas what he thought Trouba intended to do in that situation. 

"I don't know, I guess elbow me in the head," Necas responded. "Maybe he was protecting himself going into the boards. He knows. Everybody knows what kind of player he is."

New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba took a run at a Carolina Hurricanes player in the Stanley Cup playoffs during NHL action Tuesday night.

(Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Yes, Jacob Trouba has a bit of a reputation around the NHL. I will admit, as a Rangers fan, that I love Trouba. He's the type of player that fans of his team love and fans of opponents hate. That carries some value, especially in the playoffs. 

But, that value is mitigated if he's constantly in the penalty box and not contributing on the scoresheet. Trouba does have two assists in six games, but that doesn't offset the six penalties and the one that almost cost the Rangers a 2-0 series lead. 

We love ya, Troubs, but we just cannot have this kind of stuff right now.