Chris Kreider scored his 43rd and 44th goals of 2021-22 while birthday buddy Mika Zibanejad tallied his 500th career NHL point as the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Blueshirts fired off 3 quick unanswered goals to take a 3-0 lead heading to the 2nd period, with Alexis Lafreniere (14) first lighting the lamp at just 2:07 into the game. Almost a minute later, Kreider would tally his first of the night at 3:58 to make it 2-0. Then just 18 seconds later, new Ranger Frank Vatrano, acquired from the Florida Panthers days earlier, scored his first goal as a Blueshirt at 4:16, his 12th of 2021-22 to make it 3-0 New York.
Only 1 puck was put in the cage in the 2nd period, and it was Kreider's 2nd of the night at 6:37 with a shorthanded effort. Mika Zibanejad logged his milestone points marker with the assist after assisting on Kreider's 1st goal and Vatrano's first Ranger goal.
The Penguins did manage to light the lamp at least once, courtesy of Jeff Carter (15) on the power play at the 6-minute mark of period 3. The Rangers, however, would add 1 more goal by former Winnipeg Jet Andrew Copp, also signed by the Rangers days earlier, for Copp's 14th of the season at 17:47, to put the game away.
New York both outshot and just outhit the Pens, holding 33-21 and 25-24 advantages. Pittsburgh won 26 faceoffs to the Rangers' 18 circle wins.
Up next for the Blueshirts is a home clash with the Buffalo Sabres on March 27 at 5 PM. For the Penguins, they head back home to the Steel City to face the Detroit Red Wings, same day and same time.
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