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Kreider gets #50 in 4-2 loss to Carolina

By Steve Paulus

Apr 12, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers right wing Ryan Reaves (75) checks Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) into the boards during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers right wing Ryan Reaves (75) checks Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) into the boards during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 12, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers players celebrate the 50th goal of the season by left wing Chris Kreider (20) against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers players celebrate the 50th goal of the season by left wing Chris Kreider (20) against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /

Kreider’s 50th

Chris Kreider didn’t want to talk about getting his 50th goal saying “Something we’d probably talk about on another day. It’s hard after a game like that. I think it would mean a lot more if we found a way to win that game.”

He did make an interesting point when asked how much the pursuit of 50 was on his mind.  He said “To be honest, I’m kind of glad it’s over because I think it was on other peoples’ minds.   We’ve got a lot of really good guys in the room who were pulling for me….I could feel guys looking for me.”

Kreider said that it didn’t work against the Canes who play a tough man-to-man defense. “It’s better for the whole team now to go back to playing hockey and taking what the other team gives us…(we can) go back to shooting the puck and I can go back to screening the goalie.”

Kreider was obviously referring to Mika Zibanejad who had earlier said that his mission was to help him get to 50 goals.  He did say that he never dreamed of scoring 50 goals when he was younger.  His goal has always been to win the Stanley Cup.

With the goal, Chris Kreider becomes the fourth New York Ranger to do it:

  • Vic Hadfield 1972-73:  50
  • Adam Graves 1993-94: 52
  • Jaromir Jagr 2005-06:  54
  • Chris Kreider 2021-22: 50

The 30-year-old Kreider is also the fourth oldest NHL player to reach 50 goals for the first time behind Johnny Bucyk (35), Joe Mullen (32) and Vic Hadfield (31).

Kreider’s season is the 199th time that a player has topped 50 goals in NHL history.  He is the 93rd NHL player to score 50 goals in a season.

He has eight games left this season to try to score five goals and become the most prolific goal scorer for the Rangers in a single season.   Don’t put it past him.

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