Kravtsov returns to the lineup
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Vitali Kravtsov was back in the Rangers’ lineup for their final preseason game Saturday night, a 5-4 overtime victory over the Islanders, after he had suffered a lower-body injury earlier this month.
The 21-year-old winger scored a power play goal in the first period, one-timing a slick cross-ice feed from Ryan Strome past Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin to knot the score 1-1. Kravtsov skated on a line with Filip Chytil — who had a hat
RANGERS NOTES
trick, including the game-winner on a power play — and Barclay Goodrow, and that trio is expected to be part of the opening-night squad Wednesday at Washington.
“First game after injury, I think I feel a little bit better,” Kravtsov said after the win. “Nothing hurt. We worked hard, [had] effort. We played well.”
Head coach Gerard Gallant previously said he didn’t expect Kravtsov’s injury to have a negative impact on his chances to secure a roster spot. Gallant said he planned to use Saturday’s game to further evaluate where Kravtsov best fits in the lineup.
➤ Alexandar Georgiev saved 14 of the 18 shots he faced, giving up two goals apiece to Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal, two thirds of the Islanders’ top line. The Bulgarian netminder was sharp while the Rangers were shorthanded and allowed just one power-play goal, by Lee in the third period.
Additionally, Georgiev made an impressive save on Oliver Wahlstrom during a two-on-one Islanders rush at 16:28 of the second period.
“Real good and solid,” Gallant said of the 25-year-old. “Not much chance on some of those goals they scored, but I thought he was solid.”
➤ The Rangers’ power play went 3-for-5, which included Chytil’s overtime winner after Kaapo Kakko drew a tripping call on Barzal just 27 seconds into the extra five minutes.
In addition to Kravtsov’s first-period power-play tally, Chytil scored while the Rangers had the man-advantage at 9:38 of the final frame before burying the OT winner at 2:06 with a 4-on-3 advantage.
➤ The Rangers recalled forward Greg McKegg ahead of Saturday’s game and he slotted in on the left wing of the fourth line next to Morgan Barron and Dryden Hunt.