WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Just when you think Chris Kreider is slowing down, he accelerates again.
The veteran winger set a career-high 53 points after scoring twice at Rangers. 4-1 win over the Jets on Sunday evening at the Canada Life Center. Kreider is now one point away from 400 in his career.
“He rolls pretty well,” said head coach Gerard Gallant after the win that improved Rangers’ record to 36-15-5. “Big power play goal tonight and then he scores another nice goal. So the big boys are scoring important goals at crucial moments and we have the game under pretty good control.”
After the Jets pulled back to 1 behind Nikolaj Ehler’s powerplay goal in the second half, there was no sign of panic or hesitation from the Rangers, who extended their lead to two in the final frame. Kreider took a pass off the boards from Mika Zibanejad, won the race to the puck and scored his second goal of the night and 38th of the season — putting him second in the league with the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl.
“That’s something me and Mika have been looking for, I think, the whole time we’ve been playing together,” Kreider said. “And it’s not always there, but when he is, he serves it perfectly. It is something [Alexis Lafreniere] started looking too.”
Post Sports+ members, Sign up to Let Mollie Walker text you the latest on Rangers and respond with your thoughts and questions. Not a Sports+ member yet? Try it now.
Despite a 16-9 away win in the first period, Rangers took a 2-0 lead. Winnipeg did net more pucks, but none were rated as highly dangerous.
After Barclay Goodrow opened the scoring after just over two minutes, Rangers later earned back-to-back power plays in the first period. On the second opportunity, at 5:28 p.m., Kreider smashed a hard-fought center feed from Artemi Panarin past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/chris-kreider-ties-career-high-in-points/ Chris Kreider is building on his career high in points
