‘A little weird’: Kreider, Trouba honored by Rangers in return to Garden
Chris Kreider left the Madison Square Garden ice high-fiving his teammates after a win Monday night. There was nothing unusual about that — except for the fact that he wasn’t wearing a New York Rangers sweater when he did it.
Kreider and his Anaheim Ducks teammates — including former Rangers Jacob Trouba, Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome — left the Garden with a solid 4-1 victory. Kreider didn’t hit the score sheet, but Trouba, who was traded to the Ducks last December, started the play that led to the game’s first goal, a shorthanded tally by Jackson Lacombe at 7:18 of the second period.
That came after Kreider was honored for his 13 seasons on Broadway with a video tribute during the first media timeout in the opening period, as well as a standing ovation not only from the sellout crowd of 18,006 but also from his former teammates.
Kreider said playing against the Rangers was “a little weird. It took me a couple of shifts to remember the guys in blue weren’t my teammates.”
Though Kreider said he didn’t see most of the video tribute because coach Joel Quenneville was talking strategy, he caught the end before taking a lap in front of the Ducks bench, waving his stick and patting his heart to the crowd while trying to control his emotions.
“What I did see was awesome,” he said. “Just really grateful for the experience. It was certainly a warm welcome back. That was incredible. Really, really, really cool moment.
“It’s hard to put into words what the experience was like for 13 years, what that experience was like tonight. I don’t know. It kind of leaves you speechless.”
A few minutes later, it was Trouba’s turn.
Unlike Kreider, the Rangers’ former captain faced his former teammates on March 28 in Anaheim after being dealt to the Ducks just over a year ago. He received his own video tribute and a warm ovation.
“Means a lot to me,” he said of The Garden and the fans who cheered him there, “and this place will always be special.”
After the game, Kreider and Trouba shared the “Bombay Jacket,” Anaheim’s version of The Broadway Hat.
Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba get huge welcome, and win, in MSG return
Those teammates were very aware that this was no ordinary game – something that was apparent when all four ex-Rangers took the ice for the opening face-off.
“That was a cool move by coach,” Kreider said. “It’s a fun building to play in, even as an opponent.”
The Ducks were very conscious of wanting to win one for Kreider and Trouba.
“We said before the game that we’ve got to play for these guys,” said Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal, who made 26 saves and was sharp all night.
Kreider and the Ducks left MSG with the win after Cutter Gauthier broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal 5:51 into the third period, then hit the empty net with 22 seconds left to ice the win. The 34-year-old slapped gloves with his teammates and received the game puck as a souvenir of his first MSG victory as a visiting player after 13 seasons with the Rangers.
“Maybe next time it’ll feel a little more normal,” Kreider shared. “I had a little adrenaline dump in the first period, a little bit of tunnel vision and nerves like my first game here in New York.”
One ex-teammate Kreider didn’t face on the ice was his best friend, center Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers scratched Zibanejad safter he missed a team meeting. Zibanejad was on hand for the game and caught up with his old teammate in the hallway after the game.
Kreider’s 326 goals are third in Rangers history; his 48 playoff goals are first and he’s tied for the franchise record with 116 power-play goals. But the Rangers traded him after he dropped to 22 goals and 30 points last season, when he battled injuries and illness.
However, Kreider is healthy this season and his scoring touch returned. Kreider has 13 goals and 20 points in 29 games for Anaheim, which is second in the Pacific Division and trying to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.
“It’s great to be truly healthy,” he said after the morning skate.
Rangers forward Matt Rempe, who returned to the lineup after missing 24 games with a broken thumb, was happy that his comeback coincided with the return of two former teammates.
“It was real cool,” he said. “Both of those guys were really good mentors to me and awesome teammates. It was great seeing them.”
