For the second time this season, Chris Kreider had a two-goal game.
Despite the fact that exactly nine New York Rangers players tallied points on the ice during the Oct. 19 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Blue Line Station in naming Kreider as the MVP of the game. The winger was the only player to score twice in the contest, with it being his second two-goal game of the season.
His first was during the regular-season opener — which included a shorthand through the five-hole.
This time, Kreider made it 2-0 against the Maple Leafs at 9:08 of the second period when he tapped in a cross-crease pass from Mika Zibanejad while on a delayed penalty.
His second of the night was into an empty net goal. He scored at 19:00 to make it 3-1.
These two goals marked his fourth and fifth of the season.
Though, Kreider wasn't the only player who scored on an empty net that night. Artemi Panarin also scored in the same fashion, his sixth goal of the campaign, at 19:46.
Kreider has everything a modern NHL power forward needs: top-end speed, game-breaking ability and a physical approach to the game. He was selected by the Rangers as the No. 19 of the 2009 draft and has been with the Blueshirts ever since.
Kreider signed a seven-year contract with the Rangers on Feb. 24, 2020. He scored an NHL career-high 52 goals in 2021-22 to become the fourth 50-goal scorer in Rangers history. So far this season, he has played in all five games and has five total points so far this campaign at the age of 33.
A close second for Blue Line Station's MVP of the game was Igor Shesterkin. He logged 34 saves in the 4-1 road win. Futhermore, in Shesterkin's three wins this season, he has allowed a total of two goals
Up Next
The Rangers (4-0-1) close out their three-game road stretch tomorrow, Tuesday Oct. 21 at the Montreal Canadiens (2-3-1). Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST. They return home to Madison Square Garden to host the Florida Panthers on Thursday.