Blue Line Station
Fansided

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; Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) skates with the puck defended by New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (79) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) skates with the puck defended by New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller (79) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports /

About the game

The Rangers came out and played an outstanding first period.  Although the period ended scoreless, the Rangers had the better chances and more offensive zone time than Carolina.  They ended up outshooting the Canes 14-7, going toe-to-toe with them for the first time this season.

The Rangers didn’t help themselves by coming up short on two power plays.  Kreider said that it was “disjointed” and it showed,  Of course, the Hurricanes penalty kill is the best in the NHL by far and it showed.

They Rangers still came close a few times but were unable to put one past Andersen.  The best news is that both teams played with playoff intensity and the Blueshirts were the better team in the period.

It carried over into the second period when K’Andre Miller scored 63 seconds into the period.

He made the play with a poke check at the Rangers blue line.  Frank Vatrano took the puck into the zone, passing to Mika Zibanejad who laid a backhand to the front of the net where Miller was as he had followed the play into the zone and he put the puck past Andersen.

There was a potential turning point when the Rangers killed off a Vatrano penalty and he got the puck when the penalty expired and he rang one off the post.  A second goal would have been very big.

The Rangers were unable to take advantage of a penalty to Brendan Smith and when Smith was not called for a cross check to Barclay Goodrow, the Hurricanes took advantage. With just 6:22 minutes left in the period, they were the beneficiaries of a lucky bounce and tied the score.  Seth Jarvis took a shot that was blocked and from behind the net, Andrei Svechnikov tried to center the puck and it deflected off Shesterkin’s skate and into the net.

The Hurricanes came out storming in the third period and it was their turn to score early, when Seth Jarvis scored just 62 seconds into the period.  The Rangers were changing and the Hurricanes caught them, sending Jarvis in on a breakaway and he beat Shesterkin.

6:42 into the period, the Hurricanes scored again, a backbreaking goal and again it was on a broken play.  Brady Skjei took a slapshot, breaking his stick, but the shot was blocked and bounced right to Jordan Staal who one timed it past Shesterkin.

From then on, it was classic play by the Hurricanes as they kept the Rangers penned in, unable to get set up in the offensive zone.  The 3-1 lead looked insurmountable and Gallant pulled Shesterkin with two minutes to go and that’s when Kreider scored to make it close.

After an icing, Ryan Strome won the offensive zone draw and in the scramble for the rebound of a Adam Fox shot from the blueline, Kreider put the puck past Andersen after he made a stop on Andrew Copp.

Although the goal roused the crowd, the Rangers were unable to beat Andersen and Sebastian Aho scored into the empty net for the 4-2 win.

Here is a video recap of the game:

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