Recap: Kreider's Shorthanded Goal Secures 3-2 Win Over Boston

After a brutal loss in Boston just four days prior, the Rangers hosted the Bruins for an important rematch that meant something not just for the mentality of this team, but for the standings as well. It wasn't the most exciting 60-minute showing in the world but a pair of goals in the third capped of a huge come from behind win as the Rangers collected a much needed pair of points.

1st Period: 

It only took 41 seconds for Ryan Lindgren to find his way to the penalty box. After getting tangled up with Igor Shesterkin, he took down Hampus Lindholm behind the Rangers net to give the Bruins the first power play of the night. After a successful penalty kill, the Rangers did a good job of maintaining pressure through the first half of the period, holding the Bruins without a shot on goal in the process. 

Frankly, this became a true contender for the most boring period of the season. It took the Bruins twelve and a half minutes to register a shot on goal and for the longest time, the Rangers only had three of their own. The fourth line was one of the only ones generating extended spurts of productive offense. Probably the best scoring chance came at the end of a terrific shift from Matt Rempe where he was providing a constant net front presence and almost converted on a rebound towards the end of the first. 

At the end of twenty minutes, shots were 8-3 in the Rangers favor which honestly, felt a bit exaggerated. A great deal of this period was spent icing the puck with both sides chasing at times and Rempe and Fox generating half of the eight shots the Rangers had. 

2nd Period:

It was story time with Bruins GM Don Sweeney for the first five minutes of the broadcast and that pretty much sums up the excitement levels of what was happening in the game itself. The Bruins were spending more time in the Rangers zone but still nothing high danger from either side through the first quarter of the second. 

Finally, a simple dump and chase effort from J.T. Miller got the puck in the offensive zone. Zibanejad was able to throw it back to Artemi Panarin who ripped a one timer that sailed right by Korpisalo to get the Rangers on the board, making it a 1-0 game. 

About a minute and a half after the goal, Jonny Brodzinski was tripped in the neutral zone which sent Morgan Geekie to the box to give the Rangers their first man advantage of the night. The Rangers new top unit of J.T. Miller with Kreider, Zibanejad, Panarin and Fox took the ice and continued to look strong but would not convert as the team’s returned to even strength. 

It wouldn’t be long before they were back to power play as Andrew Peeke was sent off for high sticking a minute and a half later. The second power play unit would get more of an extended look this time around which didn’t help much as the Rangers came up empty handed once again. Soon after, it was Matt Rempe yet again with a Grade-A scoring chance as he came in on a breakaway off a nice defensive effort to force a turnover by Jimmy Vesey. Alas, a slick forehand-backhand move was turned away by Korpisalo to keep things 1-0. 

With five minutes to go in the period, a quick defensive lapse from the Rangers resulted in a shot from David Pastrnak going through a screen to find the back of the net, tying the game 1-1. As if that wasn’t bad enough, just 16 seconds later, the Rangers top line was caught sleeping as the Bruins went to work and Elias Lindholm let a shot go that redirected off the skate of Adam Fox to end up in the back of the net, 2-1 Boston. 

The Rangers closed the period with an interference penalty that sent Vincent Trocheck off with 47 seconds left in the second. Not enough time for the Bruins to do anything with the advantage but all it took was two shifts in less than 30 seconds to completely redefine the story of this game. Shots after two were now 14-10 in favor of the Rangers who in a span of 16 minutes were trailing in a can’t lose game. 

3rd Period:

After fighting off the rest of the Bruins power play, the team's returned to even strength and just a few minutes later, Brad Marchand took a run at Igor Shesterkin which drew a well-deserved crowd. Marchand was given a two minutes penalty for hitting the goaltender which gave the Rangers their third power play of the night.

While it technically wouldn't come as a power play goal, the second unit put some good pressure on the Bruins penalty killers and some great movement from K'Andre Miller and Jonny Brodzinski resulted in Miller finding Trocheck in front to guide the puck home, tying the game 2-2.

This brought some life into the Garden and some urgency to the Rangers game which was definitely needed. However, just over the midway point of the period, Matt Rempe was given a penalty for holding which as it happened live, really didn't look like anything. Upon review, his hand was off the stick and made contact with Pavel Zacha but honestly, this felt like Rempe being penalized for being Rempe which is absurd.

After a strong effort on the penalty kill, Mika Zibanejad had some speed and carried the puck out of the zone. An outstanding hustle from Chris Kreider to join the rush allowed for Mika to feed him the pass which Kreider was able to fire home, regaining the lead now 3-2.

That would stand as the difference maker as the Rangers held on and fought off the Bruins push to try and tie the game back up with the net pulled. A massive pair of points for the Rangers to pick up and a huge goal for Chris Kreider to score after going the last six games without a goal. Two games stand between the Rangers and the two week break for 4-Nations as they're back at it on home ice to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins Friday Night.