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New York Rangers: Kreider’s huge night, slick uniforms, other takeaways

By Andrew Steele-Davis

WINNIPEG, MB February 11: Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine (29) jostles for position with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) during the regular season game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers on February 11, 2020 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB February 11: Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine (29) jostles for position with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) during the regular season game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers on February 11, 2020 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 11: Chris Kreider #20, Pavel Buchnevich #89 and Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrate a third period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 11, 2020 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Big guns deliver

Tuesday night wasn’t just about Chris Kreider and Igor Shesterkin.

As good as they were, and they were both outstanding, a number of the New York Rangers’ other big hitters also delivered the goods.

There was Pavel Buchnevich who has learned from his latest trip to the Quinn Bin, going off for a two-point night against the Winnipeg Jets with two assists.

The Russian is turning it on at just the right time and his second assist was impressive for his work behind the net, battling hard before feeding a dish to Mika Zibanejad who one-timed the puck past Connor Hellebuyck.

Speaking of Zibanejad, the center also had a productive night at the office with a goal and an assist for a two-point night.

The forward leads by example for this team and just goes about his business with no fuss, which is why it makes sense for the Rangers to finally hand Zibanejad the “C” in the off-season.

Ryan Strome, who could be approaching his last days as a Blueshirt, continued his hockey renaissance with a goal and an assist, taking him to 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) on the year, nudging him closer to equalling his career-high of 50 points in 2014-15.

And let’s not forget about Artemi Panarin. The Russian stud, despite having to deal with more attention on the ice than he would like, continues to be a superstar for this team and he recorded his 74th point (28 goals, 46 assists) of the year.

Make no doubt about it, if the New York Rangers somehow claw their way into the postseason, you can make a serious argument for Panarin winning the Hart Trophy.

And, if the Blueshirts are to pull off an unlikely feat by stamping their playoff ticket, they will need all of their big guns to produce in big ways down the stretch.

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