Kreider's power-play goal lifts Rangers over Blues, 5-3

Updated Mar. 2, 2022 10:44 p.m. ET

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Chris Kreider scored a tiebreaking power-play goal in New York's three-goal third period and the Rangers rallied to beat the St. Louis Blues 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, and Alexis Lafrenière, Ryan Strome and Patrik Nemeth also scored for the Rangers, who recovered after giving up a two-goal lead and snapped their two-game skid. Adam Fox had three assists and Igor Shesterkin finished with 28 saves to help New York improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven at home.

Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron each had a goal and an assist, and Ivan Barbashev also scored for St. Louis, which had won four straight. Ville Husso stopped 24 shots in the Blues' first regulation loss in eight games (6-1-1).

Nemeth, back in the lineup after missing three games for the birth of his son, tied it 3-all with his first goal of the season at 7:27 of the third. After Husso made a sprawling save on a shot by Strome, the goalie was face down on the ice when the puck came around to Nemeth, who fired a shot that deflected off Barbashev's skate on the right side and in.

Husso was upset after the play, claiming he was interfered with by Dryden Hunt while he was down, but the Blues did not challenge.

Kreider put the Rangers back ahead with 8:20 remaining when he tipped Fox's shot past Husso for his 35th goal of the season and NHL-leading 18th on the power play.

Panarin added an empty-netter with 1:52 left for his 15th of the season.

Trailing 1-0 after one period, the Blues nearly tied it a minute into the second when Brandon Saad's shot squirted through Shesterkin's legs, but Mika Zibanejad stopped the puck before it crossed the goal line to keep St. Louis off the board.

Husso made a nice pad save on Barclay Goodrow about 7 1/2 minutes into the middle period. Shesterkin stopped Vladimir Taraskenko's attempt from the left side near the midpoint, and then denied former teammate Pavel Buchnevich on a breakaway with 7:44 left.

Strome made it 2-0 as he got a pass from Panarin on the left doorstep and put it in between Husso's right pad and the goalpost with 3:24 remaining for his 12th of the season.

The Blues then scored three times on three consecutive shots over a 2:14 span to take the lead. O'Reilly got it started just 54 seconds after Strome's goal as he converted off a pass from Saad on a rush for his 12th.

Barbashev tied it when he beat Shesterkin from the left circle over the goalie's left shoulder for his 17th with 1:23 remaining in the period.

Perron put St. Louis ahead with 16 seconds left as he got a pass from O'Reilly from behind the Rangers' net in the right circle and put it past Shesterkin's right shoulder for his 12th.

The Rangers outshot the Blues 8-7 in a first period that saw both teams endure long stretches without a shot on goal. New York also blocked 11 shots by St. Louis.

The Blues had three shots in the first 5 1/2 minutes, then went nearly 10 minutes without one until Colton Parayko's slap shot with 4:41 remaining.

Lafrenière got the Rangers on the scoreboard at 8:55 as he got the rebound of Fox's shot from the point in front, spun around and put it past Husso on the left side. It was Lafrenière's 13th, topping his total from his rookie season last year.

New York only managed one shot on goal the rest of the period — an attempt from inside the blue line by Braden Schneider with 6:53 left.

SEEING FAMILIAR FACES

Buchnevich faced the Rangers for the first time since he was traded to St. Louis in the offseason. Buchnevich had 79 goals and 116 assists in 301 games over five seasons in New York. The Rangers honored the left wing with a brief video tribute during a stoppage in play in the first period. He raised his arm in acknowledgement and received mild applause from Rangers fans.

STATS

The Rangers improved to 21-3-2 when scoring first and 4-12-1 when trailing after two periods. They have 18 comeback wins, tied with Columbus for most in the NHL. ... St. Louis fell to 22-3-2 when leading after 40 minutes.

UP NEXT

Blues: At the New York Islanders on Saturday in the third of four straight on the road.

Rangers: Host the New Jersey Devils on Friday night to finish a three-game homestand.

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