Chris Kreider wins first 'Mr. Ranger' award in honor of Rod Gilbert
Zac Jones of the Rangers skates during the third period against the Capitals at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 24. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Chris Kreider was named the inaugural winner of the newly created Rod Gilbert “Mr. Ranger’’ Award, which was presented before Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.
The award, which honors the late Rangers Hall of Famer, is given to the player “who best honors Gilbert’s legacy by exemplifying leadership qualities both on and off the ice, and making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.’’
Gilbert’s widow, Judy, and former Ranger Adam Graves presented Kreider with the award. Kreider, who has a career-high 52 goals and 25 assists this season, was named the winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award on Tuesday.
Gilbert, who died last year at age 80, became a childhood favorite for a generation of fans, then spent the rest of his life promoting the game and his old team.
He is the team’s career leader in goals (406) and points (1,021).
Jones called up, others rest
The Rangers called up defenseman Zac Jones from AHL Hartford Wednesday, a day after the team’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes that eliminated the possibility of the Blueshirts winning the Metropolitan Division. Jones was immediately inserted into the lineup Wednesday night, as coach Gerard Gallant chose to rest several regulars.
With forwards Artemi Panarin and Andrew Copp both being held out of the lineup after leaving Tuesday’s game with injuries, Gallant also gave the night off to forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, and defensemen Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren.
Jones, who has spent most of the season with Hartford, but who has been called up to the Rangers a few times, had played a total of 11 games for the Blueshirts, and recorded two assists. In 52 games with Hartford, he had nine goals and 26 assists, for 35 points.
Blue notes
Ryan Reaves scored his fifth goal of the season at 4:14 of the second period, tying the game at 1-1, after Ryan Poehling had scored in the first period for the Canadiens. Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome had the other two goals for the Rangers, and Barclay Goodrow had two assists. Alexandar Georgiev’s personal seven-game win streak ended, as he allowed four goals on 24 shots.
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.
