Chris Kreider moving up in Rangers' history
Rangers left winger Chris Kreider celebrates a goal against Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during the third period of an NHL game Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP/Matt Freed
PITTSBURGH – Chris Kreider’s power-play goal at 1:06 of the third period against the Penguins Tuesday night ended up being the game-winner in the Rangers’ 3-2 victory, but the goal also kept moving Kreider’s name up the ranks in team history.
The goal was Kreider’s 45th of the season, which tied him with Mike Gartner for the eighth-most single-season total in franchise history. The goal also was Kreider’s league-leading 23rd power-play goal, tying him with Vic Hadfield for the second-most in a season in franchise history. The goal also was Kreider’s ninth game-winner, the most by a Rangers since Rick Nash in 2013-14.
“It's a big power-play goal,’’ Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said of Kreider’s game-winner. “I mean that's what Kreids does. A shot from the point, missed the net, and he's right there for the garbage. And you know, he's scored a lot of goals in the blue paint, and he's doing a great job.’’
Strome 'day-to-day'
Center Ryan Strome made the trip to Pittsburgh but was not in the lineup. Strome suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres and did not play in the final two periods, but Gallant said after that game Strome’s injury was not serious.
At Tuesday’s morning skate, while his teammates were on the ice, Strome did some work with a trainer, and Gallant said his availability is “still day to day.’’
The Rangers play again Wednesday in Detroit, but Gallant didn’t seem too optimistic about Strome’s chances of playing in that game.
“The trainer tells me, ‘day-to-day,’ so he’s possible for [Wednesday], I guess. But I don't know,’’ Gallant said. “One [game] at a time.’’
Ice chips
With Strome out, veteran forward Ryan Reaves re-entered the lineup after being scratched for the previous two games. Strome, D Justin Braun, Fs Julien Gauthier and Greg McKegg and D Libor Hajek were the scratches… Gallant didn’t have an estimate as to when injured forwards Kaapo Kakko and Kevin Rooney may be back, but insisted “they’re coming.’’
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.
