Chris Kreider off to hot start for Ducks while Rangers sputter
The Rangers’ woeful offense sure could use a guy like Chris Kreider right about now.
The ex-Blueshirts star is off to a blistering start for the Ducks following his offseason trade from Broadway to Anaheim, tallying four goals and one assist in three games.
He notched two power-play goals in his Anaheim home debut Tuesday, including the game-winning score with 1:27 remaining in the 4-3 triumph over the Penguins.
“Of course,” Kreider said of the feeling of making a strong first impression with his new fan base.
Kreider spent the first 13 years of his career with the Rangers after being selected with the No. 19 pick in the 2009 Draft out of Boston College.
He became a staple for the franchise during his 886-game run (eighth-most in team history), tallying 326 goals (third-most) and 256 assists for 582 points (10th-most).
While it’s easy to assume Kreider will one day have his jersey hanging at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers opted to move on from the 34-year-old.
Trading Kreider opened up cap space and allowed the team to create a new look, and the Rangers agreed to a deal with Anaheim before the veteran signed off on the move.
His Ducks tenure began with two road games against the Kraken and Sharks before his first regular-season game repping the Ducks at the Honda Center.
“Some things the same, some things different,” Kreider said. “Orange carpet as opposed to the blue carpet. I think anytime you get to suit up for a home opener in the NHL it’s an incredible experience. Can’t take that for granted hear your name call, your hometown. If you don’t get goosebumps, I don’t know what to tell ya. That’s a really, really cool thing. Home opener is always a good time.”
Kreider did not tally a point in the season-opening game, a 3-1 loss to the Kraken, before responding for two goals in a 7-6 overtime win over the Sharks.
On Tuesday, he scored the Ducks’ first goal after they fell in a 2-0 hole in the opening period and then tallied an assists on the then-go-ahead goal in the second period.
He later won the game with his goal with less than two minutes remaining.
While Kreider shines, the Rangers have been historically awful at home to start the season.
They are the first team in NHL history to not score in three straight home games to start a season after losing 2-0 to the Oilers on Tuesday night.
“He’s a premier power-play guy and he’s been that way for years now,” Ducks forward Troy Terry said of Kreider, per NHL.com. “He just gives us a sense of confidence and that anchor at the net.”
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
