Rangers win sixth straight as Chris Kreider scores a hat trick, Adam Fox gets four assists
Rangers players celebrate a goal by left wing Chris Kreider in the second period of an NHL game against the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Chris Kreider’s sixth career hat trick powered the Rangers to their sixth straight victory, a 7-4 decision over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. But as much fun as the Blueshirts had in the win, they also suffered a loss, one that might make it an even more pressing need for general manager Chris Drury to find a top-line right wing before the NHL trade deadline.
Blake Wheeler, who had been playing on the right of Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, suffered what appeared to be a significant injury to his right ankle midway through the first period and was forced to leave the game. Wheeler was unable to put any weight on his right leg and likely will be out for a while.
“Lower body right now,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said of Wheeler’s status. “We’ll evaluate it and address it tomorrow. But that’s tough. He’s a veteran player that’s come here [as a free agent last summer] for a reason. You see something like that, and that’s tough.’’
The Rangers, who trailed 1-0 after the first period, got four goals from Kreider, Will Cuylle, Zibanejad and Kreider again in a 4-minute, 10-second span in the second period to take control of the game.
Vincent Trocheck, Kreider (27 goals) and Kaapo Kakko scored in the third as the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers (35-16-3) extended their lead to eight points over the Hurricanes and Flyers.
“We weren’t happy with the first,’’ Zibanejad said. “It wasn’t a good one for us, so we needed to do something completely different and be way better in the second.’’
Goaltender Jonathan Quick, who did a lot to keep the Rangers in the game in the first period, made 31 saves for his fourth straight win. Defenseman Adam Fox had his second career four-assist game. His career high in a game is five assists, set in 2021.
Wheeler was injured when he was hit behind the net by Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble. He stayed on his knees as play exited the Canadiens’ zone and went down to the Rangers’ end. After a few moments, Wheeler tried to stand up but could not. He was helped off the ice through the Zamboni entrance.
Fox said the sight of Wheeler in pain was hard on the Rangers and that it took a while for them to get over it and pick up their game.
“Yeah, definitely,’’ he said. “I mean, you never want to see stuff like that . . . Wheels is such an important — not just player, but guy in this locker room for us, and you feel his presence. We’re hoping for the best news. And yeah, it does definitely take a minute to kind of get back to that emotion and fire after that.’’
The game was scoreless when Wheeler exited, as Montreal had an apparent goal by Brandon Gignac waved off early in the period because he played the puck with a high stick. Then the Canadiens took the lead on a goal by Jake Evans at 14:29 as he whacked in the rebound of a shot by Josh Anderson.
The Rangers tied it at 11:09 of the second period on Kreider’s first goal.
Quick made a nifty glove save on Cole Caufield 18 seconds after Kreider’s goal andCuylle gave the Rangers the lead at 12:27. He drove the net and got a backhand redirection of a feed by Ryan Lindgren for his 10th goal.
A penalty by Trocheck gave Montreal a power play, but Zibanejad scored a shorthanded goal — with a delayed penalty in effect against the Canadiens — to open a 3-1 lead for the Rangers. Montreal coach Martin St. Louis challenged the goal, alleging that Kreider had interfered with goaltender Sam Montembeault (24 saves), but after video review, it was determined that there was no interference. So not only did the goal count, but Montreal was penalized for delay of game because of the unsuccessful challenge.
Kreider scored his second goal on the ensuing power play, breaking the Rangers’ 0-for-18 power-play drought, when he tipped in a shot by Artemi Panarin (three assists) at 15:19.
Caufield scored twice for Montreal (22-24-8), which also got goals from Evans and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Notes & quotes: The Rangers recalled forward Alex Belzile late Wednesday night from AHL Hartford, but he was a healthy scratch Thursday along with defenseman Zac Jones. Belzile, 32, played for the Montreal organization for four seasons after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He signed with the Rangers as a free agent last summer . . . The Rangers signed Hartford defenseman Brandon Scanlin to a two-year contract extension.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
