Rangers down Caps in NHL opener

NEW YORK — Chris Kreider is six games into his NHL career and days shy of his 21st birthday.

And yet the Stanley Cup playoffs are anything but overwhelming for the newest New York Rangers forward who has quickly become a hit on Broadway.

Kreider scored the go- ahead goal and then set up Brad Richards’ insurance tally 90 seconds later in the third period to lift New York to a 3- 1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday in the opening game of the Eastern Conference semifi- nal series.

Kreider, who earlier this month helped Boston College win the NCAA championship, scored the second goal of his NHL career — and these playoffs — and he did it at the perfect time to give the Rangers a 2- 1 lead 7: 00 into the third.

Both Kreider’s goals have been playoff game- winners. He also had the deciding marker in New York’s Game 6 victory at Ottawa when the Rangers played the first of two potential elimination games in the first round.

“I’m kind of at a loss for words,” Kreider said. “I’m just trying to keep my head down and work hard. Whether or not the puck goes in, I’m just trying to play the same role I play every night and be consistent and be defensively reliable.”

Coyotes 4, Predators 3

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Phoenix Coyotes got away with one and know it.