The Rangers improved to 21-7-1 by defeating the Ducks and Bruins on Friday and Saturday. After losing three of four contests, New York rebounded in a big way with the two wins. Friday, it was the offense that carried the load. Saturday, the defense was front and center in notching the victory. In both games, the goaltending, first Jonathan Quick and then Igor Shesterkin, was stellar.
The major takeaway – besides the wins – was Chris Kreider’s continued ascension up the Rangers’ all-time goals list. His two markers gave Kreider, New York’s first-round pick in 2009, 281 goals in his career. That number is third on the franchise’s goal-scoring list, moving past Adam Graves and behind only Jean Ratelle at 336 and Rod Gilbert at 406 in their careers. His second of the game, which came on the man advantage, was number 100 on the power play for CK20. Kreider is now tied with Graves for fourth all-time on the list, behind only Brian Leetch (106), Gilbert (108), and Camille Henry (116).
Further putting in context as to what Kreider’s numbers mean for the organization: of the top-6 goal scorers in franchise history, five have their numbers hanging from the MSG rafters. It’s hard not to believe that Kreider will be the sixth to be honored. That honor would not solely reflect what he has done on the ice but also what he means to the team and organization off the ice. Kreider does not have the C on his jersey but if you ask almost anyone who has either been called up or joined the squad from another team, they to a man speak about they go to Kreider with any questions and how Kreider has been the go-to person to help them get acclimated and settle in.
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Kreider first burst on the scene, making his team debut in the 2012 playoffs against Ottawa. He finished with five goals and seven points in 18 postseason games, setting an NHL record for most playoff goals by a player who had yet to appear in a regular-season game. Kreider has improved as he has aged, scoring 104 of his 281 goals in the past two-plus seasons. A master at deflecting pucks, Kreider also has become an excellent penalty killer, reminding Rangers’ fans of Rick Nash, who started out as just a scorer but became a 200-foot player and stalwart on the penalty kill.
Rangers’ fans are privileged to have watched Kreider for the past decade. With three-plus years remaining on the seven-year deal he signed in February 2020, New York will have the services of their first-line left winger for the foreseeable future.
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