Chris Kreider’s historic night leads Rangers to 5-1 win over Ducks
On Friday night at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1, for their 20th win of the season. However, the star of the game was Chris Kreider, who scored in the first period to earn his 500th career point, and then registered his 100th career power play goal later in the match. The longest tenured Blueshirt now holds third all-time on the franchise goal list with 281, surpassing Adam Graves.
I love Adam Graves,” Kreider smiled. “It’s hard to talk about it, especially with a game tomorrow. Happy with the result and we’ll try to go get a win in Boston tomorrow.”
Coming off of an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, the Rangers turned to Jonathan Quick, and he was outstanding once again. He stopped 29 shots to improve his overall record to 9-0-1. Lukas Dostal got the start in net for Anaheim, making 34 saves on 39 shots.
New York Rangers 5 vs Anaheim Ducks 1
In the first period, the Rangers showcased a strong defensive effort, successfully killing off back-to-back penalties. Vincent Trocheck was penalized for interference, followed by Ryan Lindgren’s penalty for hooking. Despite this, the Ducks managed to capitalize shortly after their power plays ended, with Brett Leason scoring his 4th goal of the season. This goal marked a concerning trend for the Rangers, as it was the fifth time in their last six games that they have allowed the first goal.
However, the Blueshirts quickly responded. About four minutes later, Chris Kreider found the back of the net, scoring his 15th goal of the season. This goal was not just the equalizer, but it also marked two significant milestones for Kreider. With the goal, the 280th of his career, he tied Adam Graves for third all time on the Rangers goals scoring list. Additionally, this goal brought Kreider to his 500th career point, a testament to his enduring impact on the team. The period ended with the score tied at 1-1.
In the middle period, the Rangers dominated, thanks in large part to the efforts of a heart and soul player, Jimmy Vesey. Vesey, despite being hit in the face with a puck during practice just a day earlier, showcased his resilience by scoring his 7th goal of the season. This crucial goal gave the Rangers their first lead of the night, 2-1.
New York’s momentum continued to build when they were awarded their third power play of the period, following a tripping call on Urho Vaakanainen of the Ducks. During the man advantage, Kreider achieved two more significant career milestones. He scored his 100th career power play goal, which tied him for fourth all-time in franchise history. Moreover, it Kreider’s 281st career goal, earning him sole possession of third place on the Rangers’ all-time goal scoring list.
On the defensive end, Quick displayed a strong performance. At 37 years old, he demonstrated his enduring athleticism by making 12 saves in the period, playing a crucial role in keeping the Ducks’ at bay. The Rangers held a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
“It’s a long season,” Quick said afterwards. “There’s going to be good games and bad games. Everyone is continuing to look to get better and if you keep that mindset, it’ll go a long way.”
The third period was marked by heightened tensions, leading to Radko Gudas and Alex Killorn receiving game misconducts. This incident occurred following extra-curricular activity involving Barclay Goodrow. The altercation resulted in a power play opportunity for the Rangers.
Capitalizing on this chance, Mika Zibanejad, known for his impressive slap shot, scored his 9th goal of the season. Zibanejad’s goal extended the Rangers’ lead to 4-1, further diminishing the Ducks’ chances of a comeback.
This goal was also a testament to the Rangers’ power play proficiency this season. With Zibanejad’s goal, the Rangers have now scored power play goals in 21 of their 28 games, highlighting their effectiveness and consistency in these situations. This strong performance on the power play has been a significant factor in the Rangers’ success in the season.
To complete the night, Adam Edström, playing in his first NHL game due to Nick Bonino being under the weather, scored his first NHL goal to solidify the 5-1 win for the Rangers.
I thought we were ready to play,” coach Peter Laviolette noted. “There’s always things you’re working on… so you’ve got to keep getting better and move towards the future.”
Rangers Notes
- Jonathan Quick stopped 29 of 30 shots and is now 9-0-1
- Chris Kreider registered 2 goals on 6 shots
- Adam Edstrom debuted with a goal on 3 shots, with 2 hits
- Artemi Panarin 2 assists gives him a point in every home game this season
The Rangers will be back in action tomorrow night, as they travel to Boston to take on Brad Marchand and the Bruins. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
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