Rangers coach explains why Chris Kreider so lethal on penalty kill
Chris Kreider did not score a shorthanded goal until his 612th NHL game with the New York Rangers. He’s now tied for seventh in Rangers history with 10 and leads the entire NHL in short-handed goals since 2021-22.
He scored two goals when the Rangers crushed the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-0 Wednesday night. His second tally was a short-handed burner at 11:53 of the third period.
“I’ve often found that power-play guys are often good penalty killers,” coach Peter Laviolette explained to reporters Friday, ahead of their home-opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday.
“They see set-ups and they know what’s about to happen.”
Kreider, of course, knows a thing or two about power-play success. The 33-year-old is second all-time in Rangers history with 110 power-play goals, trailing only Camille Henry. He passed Rangers legends Adam Graves (100), Brian Leetch (106) and Rod Gilbert (108) last season when he scored 18 power-play goals. In 2021-22, half of Kreider’s NHL career-high 52 goals were scored on the man advantage (26).
So, yes, Laviolette could be on to something as to why Kreider is so good on the penalty kill, too.
But there’s more to it.
“I think he has that, and I think he has the explosiveness to put a powerplay on edge because there could be something going the opposite direction,” Laviolette said.
In other words, opponents must be wary of Kreider’s offensive skill set even when he’s on the penalty kill.
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‘Smart guy’ Chris Kreider plays huge role on Rangers’ penalty kill
Against the Penguins, Kreider used his speed and power — he has an abundance of both — to burst past veteran defenseman Kris Letang, collect a loose puck and take off for a breakaway short-handed goal. It was classic Kreider, even though his finish was a bit fortunate since he didn’t get the shot off he wanted.
Kreider had two shorties last season and an NHL career-high four in 2022-23. He also has three short-handed goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including two this past spring.
In fact, his only goal in the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers was a shorty at Madison Square Garden in Game 5.
Noticeable on that play was the teamwork between Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. The long-time linemates are a terrific twosome on the PK and a nightmare for the opposition.
Kreider has always been a smart student of the game and cunning player. And that’s a plus here, too.
“He works at it. He’s a smart guy, he thinks the game so well and for him to understand the penalty kill and pick that up, that wouldn’t surprise me,” Laviolette offered.
The Rangers were third in the NHL on the PK last season (84.5 percent) and are fourth (82.8 percent) since Kreider joined the unit in 2021-22.
Just another reason why Kreider has cemented himself as an all-time Rangers great.
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