Rangers Keep Pace for Best Record with Win over Flyers
The good times keep rolling for the New York Rangers, who won their second in a row with a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia to improve to 14-3-1 on the season. The victory moves the Rangers to 29 points on the year, keeping them within reach of the Boston Bruins (31 points) for best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Las Vegas Golden Knights (30 points) own the NHL’s second best record.
Veterans Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider led the way, scoring all the goals on the night for the Blue Shirts. Zibanejad, who has had a quiet year lighting the lamp, scored twice.
He needed only 45 seconds to score the first goal of the game on a pass cross-ice from Blake Wheeler to put the Rangers up 1-0.
Later, Zibanejad took another pass from Wheeler at mid-ice, kissing the puck with the edge of his stick just enough to shoot it past Philly’s netminder to put the Rangers up 3-0.
Chris Krieder added to his team leading 11th goal of the year when he scored in the early stages of the first period.
DEVILS FALL IN COLUMBUS
Meanwhile, the Devils had a tough time in Ohio falling to the Blue Jackets 2-1 on Friday night.
All the goals were scored in the opening period, with Alexander Holtz scoring the lone Devils score midway through the first period.
Give a lot of credit to the Devils. They stiffened defensively agianst Columbus. Akira Schmid did a yoeman’s job shutting down the Jackets in the second and third periods, credited with 26 saves on 28 shots on goal.
The Devils are 8-9-1 on the season. They will host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Moreover, New Jersey is hosting its annual Fight Cancer Night before the game, which is in partnership with RWJ Barnabas Health.