New York Rangers down Devils, Chris Kreider sets records for PPG and GWG
The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils squared off for the final time this season at the Prudential Center in NJ.
Alexandar Georgiev was given the start and Justin Braun took Patrik Nemeth’s spot on the third d-pair with Braden Schneider.
An early turnover gave the Devils the lead, but Ryan Strome got the Rangers going with a power play goal after missing four games with a lower-body injury.
Chris Kreider scored his 25th power play goal of the season to give the Blueshirts the lead for good. It was his franchise record setting mark for most PPG’s in a single season passing Jaromir Jagr and game winning goals (10).
Recap: Rangers 3 vs Devils 1
Chris Kreider’s set a pair of franchise records with his go-ahead goal in the first period Tuesday night for the visiting New York Rangers, who snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-1 in Newark, N.J.
Kreider’s power-play goal with 2:03 left in the first was his 25th of the season, breaking a tie for the most by a Rangers player in a single season with Jaromir Jagr. It was also his franchise-best 10th game-winning goal of the season.
Ryan Strome scored earlier in the first period and Justin Braun scored in the third for the Rangers (45-20-6, 96 points), who moved within two points of the first-place Carolina in the Metropolitan Division after the Hurricane lost to Buffalo Tuesday.
New York goalie Alexandar Georgiev made 20 saves in the victory.
Yegor Sharangovich scored in the first for the Devils (24-40-6, 54 points), who announced during the game that star center Jack Hughes will miss the rest of the season with a lower-body injury suffered Sunday.
Goalie Nico Daws recorded 14 saves for the Devils, who have lost four straight (0-3-1).
Braden Schneider wakes up Rangers
The Rangers had eight of the first 10 shots in the first period but the Devils tallied first following a turnover at the New York blue line by Jacob Trouba, whose pass was intercepted by Sharangovich before the center descended untouched on Georgiev and beat him with the backhand at the 6:56 mark.
A fight between Sharangovich and Braden Schneider after the latter leveled Jesper Boqvist near the benches generated the power play that led to the first of back-to-back, man-advantage goals for the Rangers.
After the game, head coach Gerard Gallant credited Schneider’s big hit as the turning point. His teammates also recognized his efforts with Kreider calling him “Baby Trouba”.
Chris Kreider sets Rangers records
It all started with an Artemi Panarin pass to Kreider, who was stationed next to Daws. In one motion, Kreider accepted the puck and dished to Strome, who went to one knee and beat Daws from point-blank range with 8:53 left in the first.
“It’s good to be back,” Strome said during the MSG intermission. “Usually Kreider is putting them in the in the net but he set me up there.”
A holding penalty on Pavel Zacha led to Kreider’s record-setting goal later in the period. Panarin passed from the top of the right faceoff circle to Kreider, who angled his stick as he turned and flicked the puck past Daws.
The Rangers were outshot 6-1 in the second period before adding an insurance goal 3:55 into the third, when Braun’s shot sailed over the glove of Daws.
“It was a good win for us,” Gallant said. “It wasn’t a perfect game by either team but we felt we had good control.”
Notable Rangers
- Alexandar Georgiev stopped 20 of 21 shots for his 5th straight win.
- Braden Schneider picked up an assist and his first career fight in the NHL.
- Artemi Panarin set a career season high for assist, now at 65 and counting.
- Ryan Strome picked up a PPG and now has 3 points (2G- 1A) in his last 4 games.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 6): Practice at MSG Training Center (12:00 PM ET)
Next Game: Thursday, April 7 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (7:00 PM ET – TV: ESPN+, HULU)
*Schedule subject to change
–Field Level Media contributed to this article.
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