Rangers Roundup: Chris Kreider’s ‘Magnificent’ season, Chytil shooting blanks in shootout, and more

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Mar 2, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his goal against the St. Louis Blues with center Mika Zibanejad (93) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Blues 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The New York Rangers are in New Jersey to take on the rival Devils and close out their season-series. With the Rangers up 2-1 heading into the final tilt, they have a 7-4 drubbing from last month still fresh in their minds.

After this game, the Rangers will only have three more contests on the road for the rest of the season with 8 at home.

Their magic number to clinch a playoff berth stands at 8 points.

Chris Kreider and his “Magnificent” season

The longest-tenured member of the Blueshirts is truly having a great season. However, in reading the Rangers press notes this morning I found some impressive tidbits of info.

One of the game’s greatest players, Mario Lemieux was dubbed the ‘Magnificent One’, which was a play on Wayne Gretzky’s ‘The Great One’.

This season, Kreider became the first player since Lemieux in 1995-96 to score 46+ goals, 24+ power play goals, and 3+ shorthanded goals in a single campaign. Magnificent, is it not?

Kreider’s next power play goal will be his 25th and break the tie with Jaromir Jagr to give him the single-season ppg goal mark in Rangers’ history.

As far as where he stands in team history regarding goals in a single-season, he ranks 7th all-time. His next goal will place him in a tie with Mark Messier. Jagr holds the franchise mark at 54.

  • 4th – Mike Gartner (1990-91) – 49
  • 5th – Pierre Larouche (1983-84) – 48
  • 6th – Mark Messier (1995-96) – 47

Don’t shoot (in the shootout)

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Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Rangers lost in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night, and there was a lot of consternation over Filip Chytil taking the final shot. He needed to score to keep the game going but failed to do so.

While fans were up in arms, Gerard Gallant likely chose Chytil because he had a strong game and had several scoring chances. Those same fans also forget that Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin failed to score before his miss.

Still, the Rangers record in the shootout is just 4-3 after having lost the last two (Detroit and Philadelphia). Here’s who you don’t want to see in the shootout the rest of the way:

  • Filip Chytil (0-3 this season, 0-5 career)
  • Frank Vatrano (1-10 career)
  • Ryan Strome (1-5 this season, 3-13 career)

New York Rangers getting it done despite recent setbacks

Starting with and including the New York Rangers 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on March 17, they are 6-3-1.

In the last 10 games, the Rangers are 4-0 against teams in the playoffs. Those wins started with two on the road in a back-to-back set against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes. They followed that up with two wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins to leapfrog them for second place in the Metro.

The first loss to the Islanders could’ve easily gone the other way, but the 3-0 “horseshit” defeat was certainly upsetting.

Against opponents with an under .500 record, the Rangers are 2-1-1. I understand they needed OT against the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings, but they still won. The loss to New Jersey was a letdown for sure, and having to claw back for a point against hapless Philadelphia wasn’t great either.

Overall, the Rangers have had some perplexing efforts recently but that should not overshadow big wins against playoff opponents.

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Anthony Scultore is the founder of Forever Blueshirts and has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL... More about Anthony Scultore

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