Buoyed by the play of four ex-Rangers on their roster, the Anaheim Ducks (10-3-1) own the best record in the Pacific Division. They extended their winning streak to six Saturday, when former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba scored with 32 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Ducks to an exciting 4-3 road victory against the second-place Vegas Golden Knights.

The goal was a beauty. Trouba accepted a pass from Leo Carlsson, blew past the Vegas defender, and had a sweet finish to beat goalie Akira Schmid for the OT game-winner.

🚨 TROUBA IN OT 🚨

SIX WINS IN A ROW! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/8csyoMEKyd

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 9, 2025

It capped a rousing night for Trouba, who also assisted on a goal by former Rangers forward Frank Vatrano in the first period, blocked four shots, was credited with three hits, and led all skaters with 26:36 TOI.

“He’s adding some offense to the back end. … He’s doing a lot of things out there for us. He’s been really good for us,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville told The Athletic earlier in the week.

Trouba’s in the midst of a rebirth with the Ducks. The 31-year-old has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past nine games, after he was held off the score sheet in each of the first five this season. He leads all NHL players with a plus-16 rating.

Never an analytics darling, Trouba’s xGF is 53.91 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, He’s been on ice for a team-high 10 high-danger goals for, and only five against 5v5, and Anaheim’s outscored opponents 18-6 with Trouba out there at even strength.

The Rangers traded Trouba to the Ducks last December, with his play slipping and salary onerous for a team up against the cap. Trouba is in the final season of a seven-year contract that pays him $8 million annually.

Jacob Trouba playing major role with Rangers West in Anaheim

The Rangers also traded Chris Kreider to the Ducks, largely for financial reasons, this past offseason. Kreider’s been terrific for the Ducks, with nine goals in 10 games. He’s a big reason why the Ducks lead the NHL with an average of 4.14 goals scored per game.

Vatrano, a key trade-deadline pick up by the Rangers in 2022 who helped fuel their run to the Eastern Conference Final that spring, scored a career-high 37 goals with the Ducks two seasons ago and had 21 in 2024-25. But the goal Saturday was just his second this season.

Frank Vatrano gets in front of the net for his second goal of the season!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/Xsrefw5VUD

— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) November 9, 2025

Popular former Rangers center Ryan Strome has yet to play this season due to an upper-body injury. But Quenneville said this week that Strome is “under consideration” to return to Anaheim’s lineup.

Meanwhile, the Rangers lost again, and were shut out again, on home ice Saturday, losing to the Islanders 5-0. They’re 0-6-1 at Madison Square Garden this season, a historically bad start at home. The Rangers scored six goals in seven home games and been shut out five times.

The Rangers do have the best road record (7-1-1) in the NHL, and have won four straight away from MSG. At 7-7-2 with 16 points overall, the Rangers remain right in the mix of the Eastern Conference standings, despite averaging the fewest goals per game (2.19) in the League.

The Rangers traded Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks on June 12 for prospect Carey Terrance and a swap of draft picks. The deal was made after the No. 3 goal-scorer in team history (326) dropped from 39 goals and 75 points in 2023-24 to 22 goals and 30 points last season, when he missed time with a broken hand, a back problem and vertigo. In addition, Kreider’s name was leaked in a trade memo Rangers general manager Chris Drury sent to the other 31 GMs in the League, helping upend his final season on Broadway.

Kreider ultimately waved his no-trade clause to leave the only NHL organization he’d ever played for and join a team that hasn’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2017-18. But one month into the new season, the Rangers might like to have him back.

While the Blueshirts struggle to put the puck in the net (NHL-low 2.21 goals through 14 games, six goals in six home games), Kreider rediscovered his scoring touch in Anaheim, where he joined former teammates Ryan Strome, Jacob Trouba and Frank Vatrano on “Rangers West.” His old team is mired at 6-6-2, last in the Metropolitan Division, entering a road game against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Meanwhile, his new club leads the Pacific Division with a 9-3-1 record, has won five in a row, and leads the NHL with 4.15 goals per game.

One big reason for the early success is Kreider, who has nine goals in his first nine games with his new team, including a pair on Thursday when the Ducks rallied from an early two-goal deficit for a 7-5 win against the Stars in Dallas. His first goal at 1:16 of the second period started the comeback; his second, 16 seconds into the third, put Anaheim ahead 5-3.

🚨 Kreider 🚨

A snipe on the power play starts our scoring! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/kHe6tWxTbY

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 7, 2025

“I think it’s a resilient group. We started getting in behind their D and were able to play in the (offensive) zone,” he said of the turnaround against the Stars. “We stuck with it, didn’t get frustrated. It was a fun game – not a game that coaches enjoy.”

Former Rangers star Chris Kreider healthy, ‘having ton of fun’ with Ducks

So what’s the difference between last season and this one, aside from changing teams?

“Healthy, knock on wood,” Kreider said. “I’m having a ton of fun. Good group. I think missing some time and dealing with some stuff last year makes you appreciate feeling healthy again. There’s a lot of gratitude there, so (I) just show up every day and enjoy it.”

His renewed scoring touch is a big reason the Ducks scored seven times in back-to-back wins against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and the Stars. Anaheim became the sixth team in the past 40 years to score seven or more goals in a game at least four times through their first 13 games of a season, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins (six times in 1995-96; four in 2019-20 and 1992-93), Edmonton Oilers (four times in 1987-88) and Toronto Maple Leafs (four times in 1987-88).

Kreider is two shy of the NHL goal-scoring lead shared by teammate Cutter Gauthier and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby. Five of his goals are on the power play, one more than the entire total scored by his old team, which at 4 for 36 (11.1 percent) has the League’s 31st-ranked extra-man unit.

The Ducks got Kreider to provide scoring and leadership on one of the youngest teams in the NHL, and he’s done everything GM Pat Verbeek and coach Joel Quenneville could ask. The only thing that’s slowed him down was a bout of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, a viral infection accompanied by a rash and multiple other symptoms that cost him four games in late October.

🚨 Kreider X 2 🚨

His deflection gives us a two-goal lead! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/HbCvgUGaKB

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 7, 2025

“It was weird being out that long and really not able to do anything. It’s just a lot of twiddling in my thumbs,” Kreider said before returning to the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 31. “It just had to run its course. Nothing you can do but sit there and feel awful.”

The 12-day break between games didn’t cool off Kreider’s hot stick. He scored once each against the Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Panthers before connecting twice in Dallas. Next up is a visit to the division-rival Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

“We need to continue to build our game,” he said. “I think we’ve done a good job learning from the previous game, leaving it behind and attacking the next game. We’ll enjoy this one for a few minutes and get ready for Vegas.”

The 34-year-old, who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks this past offseason, revealed Thursday that he had hand, foot, and mouth disease, and was quarantined in a hotel room for several days.

“Not pleasant at all. No, it was terrible,” Kreider told reporters after returning to practice with Ducks. “And obviously they didn’t want to give anyone on the team that, so I was locked in the hotel room for a few days. It’s awful. I don’t recommend it.”

Per the Mayo Clinic website, this disease is a “mild illness caused by viruses,” typically spread through air-born transmission. Symptoms include rashes on the hands and feet, as well as sores on and in the mouth.

Kreider’s been through the wringer the past year. He also missed games last season with a back injury and a broken hand, though the vertigo illness stood out

“Just a bunch or weird, fluky things this year,” Kreider said at Rangers breakup day in April. “The first half of the year trying to get my back figured out. Then when I got that figured out, I got a weird illness coming out of Christmas break that got into my inner ear, which I don’t recommend. And then finally when I felt like I was getting a little rhythm, getting traction, getting healthy, back felt good, I mess up my hand.

“Yeah, it was challenging.”

On top of that, Kreider’s name was leaked in a trade memo Rangers general manager Chris Drury that was sent to the other 31 GMs in the League. Suboptimal season, for sure.

Former Rangers star Chris Kreider set for return to Ducks lineup after bizarre illness

But it appears even a fresh start in SoCal can’t help Kreider stay out of harm’s way. He played just five games with the Ducks, and had four goals and one assist, before being felled by the hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Kreider’s strong start with his new team came at a time when his former club struggled mightily to do what he does best: put the puck in the net. The Rangers average 2.36 goals scored per game, second-lowest in the NHL.

Even though he dropped off to 22 goals last after scoring 39 in 2023-24, Kreider is one of the best net-front forwards in the League — and a real threat on the power play. He has 330 goals in the NHL, including 326 with the Rangers, third-most in franchise history. His 116 power-play goals with the Rangers are tied for first all-time, six ahead of current Blueshirts forward Mika Zibanejad, Kreider’s best friend on the club.

To their credit, the Ducks were 3-1-0 without Kreider in the lineup, including a 3-2 shootout win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. It’s expected that Kreider will return Friday for a home game against the Detroit Red Wings.

The pair are teammates once again, only now across the country with the Anaheim Ducks. Kreider was traded to the Ducks in June, six months after the Rangers sent Trouba there last season.

It appears that the buddies picked up right where they left off.

Kreider and Trouba represented their new team at Ducks Night, which was held by the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The evening was highlighted by Kreider throwing out the First Pitch to Trouba.

Ducks 🤝 Halos

Chris Kreider delivered a perfect strike to Jacob Trouba at Ducks Night with the @Angels ⚾️#FlyTogether | #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/T8jF25piv9

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 6, 2025

“Right in the dirt! Right in the dirt!,” the self-deprecating Kreider joked on his way to the mound.

Unlike many celebrities or athletes who throw out the First Pitch, Kreider didn’t toss one in from the front of the mound, 40 feet or so from home plate. Instead, Kreider went atop the hill at Angels Stadium, kicked some dirt by the pitching rubber, and fired a (near) strike to Trouba.

The former Rangers were mic’d up for Ducks social media, and Trouba can be heard laughing throughout. That was especially so when Kreider went into full windup and fired the pitch.

New fits for Trouba and Kreider ⚾️

It’s Ducks Night with our friends @Angels #FlyTogether | #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/AX9eipWCwe

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 6, 2025

“Pretty good! Pretty good!,” exclaimed a laughing Trouba when he met Kreider in front of the plate for a handshake.

As they walked off the field, the former Rangers captain gushed, “That was all-time!”

After posing together for a photo with Wild Wing, the Ducks mascot, Kreider can be heard asking about the speed of his pitch.

“What’d we get on the gun?”

Related: Chris Kreider uses Shoulder Check Showcase to say goodbye to Rangers fans

Former Rangers teammates Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider enjoying summer fun in California

It’s been quite the active athletic week out in SoCal for Kreider and Trouba. Not only did they get in some baseball, Kreider and Trouba took part in the Ducks’ annual golf outing, where, again, Kreider impressed.

Absolute 🚀 from Kreider off the tee 👀 pic.twitter.com/91y2RU74F7

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 5, 2025

Oh, and they were on the ice for some hockey, too, of course, getting ready for Ducks training camp, which opens in two weeks. And there’ll be a real Rangers reunion there, too. Remember, it’s not just Kreider and Trouba on the Ducks roster. Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano are there as well.

The Ducks haven’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past seven seasons. But there are high hopes in Cali this year after the Ducks (35-37-10) finished with 80 points last season, a 21-point improvement over 2023-24. Then this offseason, they added veterans like Kreider and Mikael Granlund to support a very talented young core.

We won’t know for a number of years if the Rangers will retire Kreider’s No. 20 or if the Mets will honor Alonso similarly. Each remains an active and productive player in his respective sport.

However, retirement is likely closer for Kreider, 34, than Alonso, who turns 31 in December and recently stated his plan to play until his age-40 season.

Recent circumstances helped raise speculation about each franchise icon having his number retired. Debate spiked for Kreider after the Rangers traded their longest-tenured player to the Anaheim Ducks in June. The topic was raised with Alonso after the Polar Bear became the Mets all-time home run king earlier this week.

Inside the SNY truck for Pete Alonso's record-breaking 253rd home run with the Mets 🎬 pic.twitter.com/MfqN6lBSX9

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 13, 2025

Alonso, who homered again in that same game Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, is the Mets franchise leader with 254 home runs (and counting). Kreider finished his Rangers tenure with 326 goals, third all-time in franchise history. He’s also tied for first with Camille Henry with 116 power-play goals.

It would appear that Alonso is more of a lock than Kreider to have his number retired, based on the sheer numbers. In seven MLB seasons, Alonso is a five-time All-Star and hit 40 or more home runs three times. He holds the Major League record for most homers hit by a rookie (53, in 2019) and won the Home Run Derby twice (2019, 2021). He’s also one away from his fourth 100-RBI season, and led the National League with 131 RBI in 2022.

Each of the three players right behind Alonso on the Mets all-time home run list have their numbers retired at Citi Field: Darryl Strawberry (No. 18; 252 home runs), David Wright (5; 242), and Mike Piazza (31; 220).

Kreider is not in that rarified air with the Rangers, despite where he stands all-time in goals scored. He was pretty darn consistent, though, scoring 20 or more goals in 10 of his final 11 seasons on Broadway. Kreider broke out as a star in the latter stages of his Rangers tenure, beginning with a 52-goal season in 2021-22, when he became the fourth player in franchise history to score 50.

Related: Case for, against Rangers retiring Chris Kreider’s number 20

Many parallels between Chris Kreider, Pete Alonso

There are plenty of similarities between Kreider and Alonso. Each was a hyped prospect who made a big first impression — Kreider in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Alonso in his record-setting rookie season. Each player also eclipsed a special plateau — Kreider with 52 goals one season, Alonso with 53 home runs once.

Though they are completely different personalities — Kreider the cautious, soft-spoken intellectual; Alonso the beer-drinking everyman who coined the salty LFGM slogan — each player built a strong connection with his team’s fan base.

Pete Alonso broke out the LFGM

We’re so back pic.twitter.com/Z8fsJf78ZZ

— Amazin' Army (@WE_ARE_MET_FANS) August 13, 2025

And each established his career-defining moment (so far) in the 2024 postseason. First, Kreider scored a third-period natural hat trick to rally the Rangers past the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the second round and into the Eastern Conference Final. Five months later, Alonso saved the Mets’ season with a ninth-inning, three-run homer off Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams that turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead in the decisive third game of their Wild Card series. The Mets eventually reached the National League Championship Series.

Kreider’s playoff hatty and Alonso’s stunning, season-saving home run are now iconic moments in New York sports history.

Related: Chris Kreider uses Shoulder Check Showcase to say goodbye to Rangers fans

Mets face similar dilemma with Pete Alonso as Rangers did with Chris Kreider

The next parallel is a tricky one. Just as the Rangers navigated the difficult decision to trade Kreider, the Mets must figure out what to do with Alonso moving forward. Their loveable slugger can be a free agent this offseason, when he’s expected to opt out of the second of his two-year contract.

In fact, this will be the second straight offseason the Mets are in that situation. They came under heavy fire last winter for “lowballing” Alonso in free agency. Simply, general manager David Stearns doesn’t believe it’s wise to invest long term in an aging first baseman, no matter how popular Alonso is with the fans nor given his successful track record in New York — no small thing.

Stearns’ counterpart with the Rangers, GM Chris Drury, stuck to his guns and traded Kreider in order to free up much-needed salary-cap space. However, Drury also caused an uproar within the Rangers locker room and fan base when he mishandled the Kreider situation last season, with the forward’s name leaked in a trade memo to other NHL GMs.

Drury took plenty of heat for his heavy-handed approach last season with a trio of veterans — Kreider, Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow. But Rangers fans by and large seem on-board with how he’s juggled the roster to free up cash in order to extend star goalie Igor Shesterkin and sign free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

If Stearns lets Alonso walk after a massive 2025 season, he’ll be eviscerated by fans of the Blue and Orange. That doesn’t mean he, like Drury, doesn’t have the correct long-term vision financially and otherwise. But it’ll get ugly, for sure.

It would be ironic if Kreider and Alonso were sent packing one year after each cemented his legacy in New York. That would strengthen their bond even more. And it would all come full circle should Kreider and Alonso one day have their No. 20s retired in the Big Apple.

The deal came after arguably the poorest season of Kreider’s tenure on Broadway. After scoring at least 36 goals in each of the previous three seasons, he managed just 22. His eight assists and 30 points were full-season lows. Poor health (including hand problems and vertigo) were part of the problem, as was the Rangers’ nearly complete collapse after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24. Not to mention that infamous trade memo to all the NHL GMs from Chris Dury that prominently included Kreider’s name.

But all that aside, there was a definite drop-off in his play.

Still, Kreider is unquestionably one of the top Rangers in the 21st century – and there’s a case to be made that he’s No. 1 among non-goaltenders. No Rangers player in this century has come close to equaling his 326 goals, and his third-period hat trick in Game 6 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Second Round that eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes is one of the all-time clutch moments in franchise history.

But should Kreider’s No. 20 join the pantheon of Rangers greats who have their numbers hanging in the rafters at Madison Square Garden? Assuming Kreider remains healthy, he has two years remaining on his contract and could play beyond that, so it’s not a question that must be decided right away.

But when Kreider hangs up his skates, there figures to be a lot of conjecture about whether No. 20 should be retired.

Related: Chris Kreider uses Shoulder Check Showcase to say goodbye to Rangers fans

Yes, Rangers should retire Chris Kreider’s No. 20

The only two Rangers who scored more goals during their time in New York were longtime friends and linemates Rod Gilbert (406) and Jean Ratelle (336 before he was traded to the Boston Bruins in November 1975). Along with Kreider, they are the only three Rangers to break the 300-goal mark; Adam Graves, who’s fourth, scored 280 with the Blueshirts – eight more than Hockey Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate, who played on some awful teams in the late 1950s and early ’60s. Ironically, each wore No. 9; that number is retired in honor of both players.

Kreider is 10th in Rangers history with 582 points, seven behind longtime teammate Mika Zibanejad for the most since 2000. He is the only one of the top 10 who has more goals than assists (256), hence the relatively low points total. Kreider exceeded 70 points only twice, finishing with 77 (52 goals, 25 assists) in 2021-22 and 75 (39 goals, 36 assists) in 2023-24.

Chris Kreider. Shorthanded. pic.twitter.com/BSE0DVQiNX

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 31, 2024

It was no secret that Kreider was among the most dangerous players the past few years when it came to scoring on the power play. Half of his 52 goals in ’21-22 came with the man advantage, and he shares the team record for career PPGs with Camille Henry (116). More interesting is the fact that he became a dangerous penalty-killer in his latter seasons with the Rangers; his 13 shorthanded goals are the most since 2000 and fourth in team history behind Mark Messier (23), Graves (16) and Don Maloney (14).

Kreider is also second in Rangers history with 50 game-winning goals, four more than Ratelle; only Gilbert (52) had more.

CHRIS KREIDER, HOW GOES IT. pic.twitter.com/OfJNVjJLnf

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 31, 2024

And we haven’t even begun to talk about his playoff numbers. Kreider’s team-record 48 postseason goals are 14 more than Gilbert, who’s second all-time. His 12 game-winners are five more than Messier, who’s second with seven. He’s also first in games played (123, one more than Dan Girardi) and third in points with 76 (Brian Leetch is first with 89, followed by Messier with 80).

All in all, there’s a pretty strong case to be made that Kreider’s number needs a spot in the rafters at MSG.

No, Chris Kreider wasn’t quite good enough to have number retired by Rangers

Before his 52-goal season in 2021-22, Kreider was a good player but not one who made a major impact on most nights. In fact, he was often derided by coaches, fans and the media for his wildly inconsistent play the majority of his time in New York.

He reached the 20-goal mark six times in his first eight NHL seasons but never scored more than 28. Kreider exceeded 50 points just twice during that time (53 in 2016-17, 52 in 2018-19 – the two times he scored 28 goals). He was useful but not prolific on the power play, reaching double figures in PPGs just once (11 in 2020-21).

Exactly half (58 of 116) of his power-play goals were scored in the first eight full seasons of his time on Broadway, but of all the Rangers who played more than 100 games during Kreider’s first eight seasons, he was 10th in average power-play time at 2:32 per game.

He was rarely used as a penalty-killer during those years and did not have a short-handed goal before the 2021-22 season. That’s not surprising, since he averaged just four seconds of short-handed ice time per game.

Perhaps the best indicator of Kreider’s status on the team was his ice time. Prior to 2021-22, he never averaged more than 17:24 in any of his eight seasons.

And the verdict is …

As someone who’s watched the Rangers from the time of Bathgate in the late 1950s and early 1960s to the present day, I have mixed feelings about putting Kreider’s No. 20 alongside true Rangers immortals like Leetch, Gilbert and Messier.

Kreider was a solid-but-unspectacular player through his 20s, never even reaching the 30-goal mark. But he did score some massive postseason goals in that time and became one of the League’s most feared goal-scorers after turning 30 on April 30, 2021. No Rangers player can match Kreider’s 127 goals in a three-season span from 2021-22 through 2023-24 at any age, let alone after turning 30.

Of the four Rangers who’ve scored 50 goals in a season (Vic Hadfield, Graves and Jaromir Jagr are the others), Kreider most resembles Hadfield, the Blueshirts’ first 50-goal scorer (50 in 1971-72). Like Kreider, Hadfield had multiple 20-goal seasons but never reached the 30-goal mark before his big season. Also, his 50-goal season came after his 30th birthday.

Hadfield’s No. 11 was retired in December 2018 (it had already been retired in honor of Messier in January 2006, which is why there are two banners with the same number in the Garden rafters). At some point, though perhaps not until the 2030s, expect Kreider’s No. 20 to join them as he becomes the 12th player in team history to receive a team’s ultimate honor.

The Blueshirts made the playoffs 15 times from 2005-06 through 2024-25 after extending a seven-year non-playoff streak by coming up short from 2000-01 through 2003-04 (there was no hockey in 2004-05 because of the lockout). They got to the NHL final four in 2012, 2015, 2022 and 2024, and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, when they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games in their first trip to the championship round in 20 years.

Even without a Cup, the period from 2000-25 provided plenty of postseason thrills, including a series-clinching third-period hat trick, the longest overtime win in eight decades, the win that got the Rangers to the 2014 Final, and a memorable comeback and Game 7 win.

Here’s a look at five unforgettable playoff games from the first 25 years of this century.

May 16, 2024: Chris Kreider’s third-period heroics send Rangers to East Final

No Rangers player scored more goals this century (326) than Chris Kreider, whose time in New York came to an end on June 12 when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, aka “Rangers West.” Kreider’s most memorable game with the Rangers came 13 months earlier, in Game 6 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Second Round against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The 2023-24 Rangers set team records for wins (55) and points (114) on the way to the Presidents’ Trophy, swept the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs and won the first three games in the second round against the ’Canes.

But Carolina won the next two games to get the series back to Raleigh with a chance to pull even, and their momentum continued into Game 6. Carolina led 3-1 after two periods and was less than 20 minutes away from sending the series back to Madison Square Garden before Kreider had the period of a lifetime.

Chris Kreider stepped up and made history! @NYRangers | #NYR | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/5uOvOKxdy9

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) May 17, 2024

The big left wing cut the deficit to 3-2 by beating Frederik Andersen from behind the goal line at 6:43, then tied the game at 11:54 with a power-play goal. He completed his natural hat trick and put the Rangers ahead 4-3 by tipping Ryan Lindgren’s shot past Andersen at 15:41. Barclay Goodrow’s empty-netter capped the 5-3 win — and one of the great comebacks in Rangers history .

“He took over the game,” captain Jacob Trouba said. “He’s shown the ability to do that at times. … A lot of guys call him ‘The Horse,’ and that’s what he is.”

Kreider was the third Rangers player to score three goals in a series-clinching game — and the first since Mike Gartner in 1990. He joined Mark Messier in the famous “Guarantee Game” in 1994 and Wayne Gretzky in 1997 as the only Rangers to score three goals in one period of a playoff game

“We talk about being a resilient group and a competitive group,” he said afterward, “and I think we showed that tonight.”

May 2, 2012: Marian Gaborik scores 3OT goal against Capitals

Rangers fans of a certain age still remember Pete Stemkowski’s triple-overtime goal in Game 6 of the 1971 Semifinals against the Chicago Black Hawks (as they were known then). The goal at 1:29 of the third OT was the latest goal by the Rangers for more than 40 years, until Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Capitals in 2012.

Each team scored once in the second period before the goaltenders — Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers and Braden Holtby of the Capitals — took over. The third period was scoreless, as were the first and second overtimes.

The goalies continued their run of perfection until well past the midway point of the period when Marian Gaborik, who had scored 41 regular-season goals but none in the Rangers’ previous eight playoff games, put his name in the team record book.

Marian Gaborik scores the 3OT winner vs. WSH on this day in 2012! #NYR pic.twitter.com/9TXPWMM9zu

— Michael Silvers (@msilvers1979) May 2, 2024

The goal came practically out of nowhere. Dan Girardi controlled the puck along the right wall in the offensive zone and sent it to Brad Richards behind the net to Holtby’s right. Richards sent a quick pass in front of the net to Gaborik, whose quick shot ended the game at 14:41.

“I just tried to get open,” Gaborik said simply. “It was a beautiful pass. I just tried to get good wood on it.”

In the blink of an eye, the Rangers owned a 2-1 lead in the series, which they went on to win in seven games.

“It was about will,” Gaborik said. “We wanted to win this game, and it feels great to get the winner.”

May 29, 2004: Rangers reach Final for first time in 20 years

Rangers fans in the spring of 2014 were been champing at the bit to get back to the Stanley Cup Final, something that hadn’t happened since the Blueshirts won it all 20 years earlier.

But the 18,006 fans who packed Madison Square Garden for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens were confident that this was going to be the night the drought ended. They were right.

The Rangers came out flying. They dominated play in the first period, outshooting the Canadiens 11-5 — but couldn’t get a puck past Dustin Tokarski (Carey Price was out with an injury). The Canadiens nearly broke the scoreless tie early in the second, but Lundqvist made the save of the series when he got his blocker on a shot by Thomas Vanek.

FLASHBACK – A superhuman save and a fourth line goal propel the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years as they defeat Montreal 1-0 on this day in 2014. Where were you? #NYR pic.twitter.com/ba9jmUxfPw

— Michael Silvers (@msilvers1979) May 29, 2018

The Rangers finally got on the board from an unlikely source. Dominic Moore found a little room in front, took Brian Boyle’s passout from behind the net and beat Tokarski at 18:07 of the second.

There’s always the temptation to go into a shell in the third period when you’re protecting a lead, but the Rangers opted to stay aggressive — and it paid off. They outshot the Canadiens 13-5 — and as the waning moments of the third period approached, fans began to count down before erupting in celebration as the buzzer ended the 1-0 win. The Garden shook — and the Rangers were back in the Final.

“We played so well the entire game,” Lundqvist said. “For me it was more about just being focused on the shots they had.”

May 8, 2015: Ryan McDonagh’s OT goal saves Rangers season

The Rangers were on the verge of seeing one of the great seasons in their history go down the chute as time ticked down in the third period of Game 5 in the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Capitals.

The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers were down 3-1 in the series and 1-0 late in Game 5 in front of a stunned crowd at the Garden.

The clock ticked under 2:00 remaining in regulation with the Rangers still trailing. Coach Alain Vigneault called for Lundqvist to come to the bench in favor of a sixth attacker — but before he could get there, the Rangers tied the score. Derek Stepan’s pass found Kreider, whose shot through traffic went past Holtby with 1:41 remaining to make it 1-1.

The Garden was rocking when the teams came back onto the ice for overtime. The Rangers outplayed the Caps before Stepan controlled the puck in the offensive zone as the midway point of the first OT neared. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh jumped off the bench — and Stepan found him racing toward the slot.

One perfect pass and a well-placed shot later, the Rangers were still alive. The Garden erupted as McDonagh’s shot beat Holtby and gave the Blueshirts a season-saving 2-1 win.

May 13, 2015: Derek Stepan steps up with Game 7 OT winner

Five days after setting up McDonagh’s season-saving overtime goal against Washington, Stepan got the chance to step into the hero’s spotlight on his own.

The Rangers forced Game 7 at the Garden by holding off the Capitals 4-3 at Verizon Center in Game 6. But while logic said the momentum was with the Rangers, the visitors didn’t seem impressed – they grabbed a 1-0 lead when Alex Ovechkin beat Lundqvist at 12:50 of the first period.

However, Capitals defenseman Mike Green took two penalties early in the second period, and the Rangers capitalized on the second one when Kevin Hayes scored at 6:22 to tie the game 1-1. Hayes became the first Rangers rookie to score in a Game 7 since Muzz Patrick in 1939. 

The Capitals, who had dominated the first period, had the upper hand late in the second but couldn’t get another puck past Lundqvist. Neither team scored in the third period, so the Rangers were off to overtime for the fourth time in the first two rounds.

Washington had the better of play for much of overtime, but Lundqvist was equal to the task and gave the Rangers a chance to win.

Stepan won an offensive-zone face-off, and Girardi took a shot that was stopped by Holtby. But he couldn’t control the rebound; the puck came into the slot and Stepan buried it — setting off one of the biggest celebrations in Garden history.

The Rangers won their NHL-record sixth consecutive Game 7 and became the first team to win a series in successive years after trailing 3-1, having done the same thing against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round in 2014.

“You have to believe in the group and how we play,” Lundqvist said, “and that someone in this room is going to be the hero.”

On this night, it was Stepan, the second-line center on our All-Quarter Century Rangers team.

But I am back, after a week’s tour of the gorgeous Maritimes up in Canada. There was time spent in Halifax, North America’s fastest-growing city (yup, just learned that fact at some local establishment). There was hiking and biking and exploring the vast beautiful outposts in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Who knew that Bay of Fundy, Hopewell Rocks and Peggy’s Cove would make such a powerful impression on me? Powerful, yet so peaceful.

And before you ask, no, I didn’t hunt down Sidney Crosby in Cole Harbour, NS. Anyway, I always know where to find him pregame, postgame or after practice. Sid’s always in front of his locker willing to chat. Yeah, I know you don’t want to hear anything good about Sid, Rangers fans, but it’s true.

So, I digress. Back at it here at Forever Blueshirts, still a ways off from training camp. But there’s always plenty to write about with the Rangers — analysis, news, historical — even during these fallow times in the offseason. Plus, I’ve got some good stuff in store with the RINK RAP podcast the rest of the summer.

Thanks to Dan, John, Ryan, Eric and Tom for pitching in a bit more last week, when I was away.

Now, let’s get back to it.

New York Rangers

In my first article since returning, I broke down the pros and cons of the Rangers signing Conor Sheary to a PTO. Spoiler: This move should have plenty of short-term gain, as long as one important area of the roster is not overlooked.

John Kreiser put together a 20-man roster (12 F, 6 D, 2 G) consisting of the best Rangers players from 2000-25. There’s room for some debate on his Quarter Century team of Rangers, but it’s a real thorough job by our noted historian.

Want to make sure we once again spotlight the Shoulder Check Showcase charity event. Our Eric Charles was there late last week and filed a story on the 2025 event and why NHL players like Chris Kreider, Jonathan Quick, Adam Fox, and Trevor Zegras believe it’s so important to participate each summer.

Speaking of the Shoulder Check Showcase, Kreider also took the chance to publicly say goodbye to Rangers fans as he embarks on his first season with the Anaheim Ducks.

NHL rumors and news

NHL.com: My buddy Mike Morreale provides his daily notebook from the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, including a cool nugget on how some current NHL players are helping out Team USA in a coaching capacity.

TSN: The Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman Conor Timmins to a two-year, $4.4 million contract after acquiring him from the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this offseason.

Daily Faceoff: The Chicago Blackhawks avoided arbitration with goalie Arvid Soderblom when he agreed to a two-year, $5 million contract. Soderblom is expected to be Chicago’s No. 2 next season behind Spencer Knight.

Sportsnet: Ryan Dixon believes a pair of Rangers’ division rivals are a perfect fit for Nazem Kadri, should the Calgary Flames trade him, as has been rumored.

Sportsnet: Speaking of rumors, Michael Amato opines on the fit of Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry with the Edmonton Oilers.

Philly Hockey Now: Even as you sit and bake in the summer heat, it’s never too early for some NHL predictions. And William James provides a few here, including (spoiler) the Flyers making the Stanley Cup Playoffs next spring.

Reach out. Check in. Make contact.#NYR were honored to represent at the Shoulder Check Showcase raising awareness for mental health + benefiting the #HT40 Foundation in memory of Hayden Thorsen. pic.twitter.com/CyxytZtc4d

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 25, 2025

“It was because we had such amazing support right from the start that it started at a level beyond what we could have hoped for from Day One,” he said prior to puck drop. “And that’s because, you know, that’s (Ben) Prentiss and Ashley over at the gym and Gary Zegras and Trevor, Chris Kreider, Kevin Shattenkirk, and those guys from Day One. They were like, ‘when you’re ready to do something, we’re going to do it with you.”

The event started with a tailgate outside the rink. Most of the fans were on hand promptly at 4 p.m. (some were there even earlier) to await the players’ arrival. Upon arriving, the players took time to talk, take pictures and sign autographs. Young kids, mostly in Rangers gear, walked away with dozens of autographs on a day they’re unlikely to forget.

As Rob Thorsen said, the players truly want to be there — to not only honor his family, but for the community.

Ducks flying together for a great cause 🧡

Z, Mac-T, Frank and Stromer took part in the Shoulder Check Showcase yesterday. This event is a #HT40 Foundation initiative dedicated to bringing people together through kindness and compassion.

🎥 by DAF Media pic.twitter.com/uTuNxwVW3k

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) July 26, 2024

Kreider has found a profound connection to this event and the Thorsen family.

“I think just seeing the hockey community rally around them, especially this area, just goes to show you how impactful they were on people’s lives,” said the longtime Rangers forward, who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on June 12. “What they thought of Hayden and the whole family but especially, I think, the strength of the hockey community and how important this is to people.

“I think everyone has experienced some struggle with their own mental health,” added Kreider, who spent a lot of time saying goodbye to fans who had watched him become the third-leading goal-scorer in Rangers history. “I know someone who has, so unfortunately that’s a fact of life. I think it’s a simple concept but an incredibly powerful concept, just checking in and making sure people in your life are OK and being able to have those conversations in communication.”

Past and present Rangers spark Shoulder Check Showcase

Rangers forward Brett Berard revealed that he’d played most of the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder, but took part in the showcase and said he’ll be 100 percent for training camp.

He said being part of this event meant a lot to him.

“It’s special having all these players from all teams, all different backgrounds,” he said. “Everyone coming in for this event. It’s super special. It’s good to show that not being OK is OK, and everyone’s got a support system for them. I think that’s the biggest thing to kind of realize and recognize too. Even though we might be in the NHL and professionals at our level, we’re still little people outside of the rink and even inside of the rink.

“So it’s cool to kind of be here. See all the kids, connect with people and show that we’re kind of all in this together. I know the hockey is a small role and everyone is a family.”

Team Prentiss beats Team Quick 11-5 at Shoulder Check Showcase.

But the real winners are everyone who came out to support this cause. Great night! #nyr #ht40 pic.twitter.com/VgNDJObnnH

— Jon Chik (@JChik17) July 25, 2025

Rangers forward Matt Rempe is a fan favorite — he even scored a goal during the game. The 23-year-old said he understands Shoulder Check’s importance.

When asked how important it is for athletes to feel comfortable reaching out and really sharing if they’re struggling or noticing that a teammate is having problems, he replied, “You want to have a good environment. An environment that makes sure that everyone’s all right.

“You talk to your buddies, you grow closer here, you build brothers for life, which makes it more special.“

Matt Rempe SCORES at Shoulder Check Showcase!! #nyr #ht40 pic.twitter.com/dleTdtjVu4

— Jon Chik (@JChik17) July 25, 2025

Frank Vatrano, a teammate of Kreider’s with the Rangers in 2022 who will be playing with him again in Anaheim, echoed those thoughts.

“I think that’s what the NHL is — it’s a huge brotherhood,” he said. “The hockey community is very, very small. Regardless of if you played in the NHL or if you just even play the game, we’re always looking to give back and kind of help people and kind of make things go. I think you can see that with this event.”

Ducks’ Frank Vatrano excited he is teammates again with Chris Kreider https://t.co/nDIxOwbNSA pic.twitter.com/eoFATz1Yw7

— New York Post (@nypost) July 25, 2025

Once the doors opened, Rangers anthem singer, John Brancy gives his usual stellar performance to kick things off. He followed that up with a rendition of “Lean On Me,” the new Shoulder Check Anthem, which got the whole crowd involved.

From there, former Rangers captain and current TV analyst Dave Maloney set the tone alongside Kreider and Zegras with the Shoulder Check symbol. Everyone puts their left hand on the shoulder of the person next to them, making a vow to make sure to reach out, check in, and make contact with anyone in their lives that can use it.

Special night as always at the Shoulder Check Showcase pic.twitter.com/EfGFe9vhkc

— MS Films (@_msfilms) July 25, 2025

From there, the players put on an offseason clinic with Team Prentiss winning 11-5 over Team Martin St. Louis; the current Montreal Canadiens coach and former Rangers forward had Jonathan Quick there as his assistant. At the end of the day, players and fans were all smiles to make the most of a tragic situation for the Thorsen family.

“It’s huge, especially, something like this. I know guys, love representing it and what it’s become. You know, from where it started with kind of all the Rangers guys, a couple years ago, now I’ve seen guys coming from a lot of teams and to do it for a cause like this, it’s great. And I think it’s only going to get bigger,” Vatrano said.

Hockey fans who have the opportunity to go should add this event to their bucket list next year. It’s become one of the highlights of the sport’s offseason events, both for the hockey and the cause.

The 34-year-old forward also used the third annual event to bid farewell to some of the fans who cheered him during his 13 seasons with the Blueshirts.

“A lot of kindness, a lot of appreciation, a lot of gratitude — and that goes both ways,” said Kreider, whose 326 goals with the Rangers are third in team history. “Super lucky to have experienced what I experienced, something that’s always going to be near and dear to me and a massive part of that is obviously the fan base. That’s what makes the Rangers so special, right?”

Chris Kreider on the ice for Shoulder Check last night in his new Ducks gear 🟠 (w/ @_msfilms) pic.twitter.com/wg1Vo4C73M

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 25, 2025

The trade to Anaheim came after a season that saw Kreider struggle with injuries and inconsistency.

The injury troubles started with early-season back spasms. Then came vertigo during the holidays, knocking him out of the lineup again. Just as things seemed to get settled in February, a hand injury that ended up requiring offseason surgery derailed his progress once again.

After three straight seasons with at least 36 goals, Kreider finished with just 22. His eight assists and 30 points were full-season career lows. With the Rangers looking to get younger after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, the trade wasn’t a surprise.

Chris Kreider says goodbye to Rangers fans at charity event

Kreider looked at ease at the charity event, which promotes mental health awareness and is held in memory of Hayden Thorsen, a 16-year-old hockey player. He’s been involved since the beginning and has gotten several current and former Rangers involved.

Fans lined up outside the players’ entrance as early as 2:30 p.m., 90 minutes before the event’s scheduled start time. Many of the fans were specifically looking to see Kreider.

Kreider will see a few familiar faces when he reports to training camp in September. He’ll join former Rangers teammates Frank Vatrano, Ryan Strome and Jacob Trouba as the Ducks try to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Vatrano, who played on Kreider’s line after joining the Rangers in the latter stages of the 2021-22 season before signing with the Ducks that summer, was delighted to have his former teammate on board in Anaheim.

Ducks’ Frank Vatrano excited he is teammates again with Chris Kreider https://t.co/nDIxOwbNSA pic.twitter.com/eoFATz1Yw7

— New York Post (@nypost) July 25, 2025

“I think just his work ethic, the way he goes about his business every single day,” he said when asked what Kreider will bring to the Ducks under new coach Joel Quenneville. “He’s an absolute animal in the gym and works hard every single shift. I think, for us, we have such a young team, we have such a balance. … Probably eight guys over the age of 23 and we have another seven or eight guys who are over the age of 30. There’s a good balance and we all get along.”

Kreider was also pleased at one benefit from being traded: He can plan to be home for the holidays.

“We have a nice homestand on Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s, which I’ve never had before,” he said. “It’s definitely different.”

The Ducks are home for six straight games over two weeks in late November, meaning that he’ll be able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family. Anaheim also has seven straight games in Southern California from Dec. 19 through Jan. 2 – six at home and a Dec. 27 visit to the Los Angeles Kings.

That’s a big contrast to his time in New York, where the Rangers are usually on the road for most of the second half of November and have traditionally hit the road after Christmas. This season, they play away games on Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday afternoon, then take to the road from Dec. 21 through Jan. 2 (though the entire NHL is off Dec. 24-26).

Vatrano feels Kreider will be happy on and off the ice in his new home.

“He’s going to come to a place where he’s good buddies with me, [Jacob Trouba] and [Ryan Strome],” he said. “I think it’s more laid back in California, where you can kind of fly under the radar. Great place to raise a family, in the sunshine every day, so he’s going to love it.”