Kreider’s OT goal keeps Rangers in the hunt
‘There’s no panic here,’ insists confident Bruins coach Julien
NEW YORK — Chris Kreider proudly wore the Broadway Hat in the victorious New York Rangers dressing room as he tried to describe the feeling of saving his team’s season.
Kreider deftly steered in a pass from Rick Nash 7:03 into overtime, and the Rangers stayed alive in the playoffs with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
“It is so surreal,” the 22-yearold Kreider said. “It’s not something that can really be explained. It is something that just has to be felt, but it was awesome. I’m just excited to give these guys an opportunity to play another game. There is no quit in this room.”
New York, which erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits against Washington in the opening round, still trails the Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-1.
The Rangers will need to win again Saturday in Boston to force a Game 6 back in Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers, who were outshot 40-32, won a faceoff deep in their zone, and Nash rushed the puck up ice. He stopped above the right circle and fed a hard pass in front that Kreider skated into and tipped past goalie Tuukka Rask for his first of the playoffs.
New York, 0-3 in overtime in these playoffs, was eliminated from the conference finals last year by New Jersey in extra time in Game 6.
“It is time for us to win an overtime game,” Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said.
Kreider, who made his NHL debut in last year’s playoffs, has six career post-season goals in just 25 games.
Derek Stepan and Brian Boyle scored tying goals in the third period for the Rangers, who even found success on the power play. Carl Hagelin netted New York’s first goal of the game in the second period.
Lundqvist made 37 saves for New York.
Boston got second-period goals from Nathan Horton and Torey Krug to build an early lead. Tyler Seguin’s first of the playoffs put the Bruins back on top 3-2 in the third.