Providing excellent value: Chris Kreider Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images

Chris Kreider still isn’t perfect. He still has a lot of growing to do, he takes himself out of plays looking for (but often finding) big hits and until recently, many fans and media alike have demanded more consistency from a player who literally has everything in his tool kit. Hell, Kreider takes too many penalties and isn’t exactly Selke material in his own zone either. In short, there are warts to his game.

The Rangers evened the series against the Lightning with a gusty albeit imperfect win. They were shaky at the back, had to over rely on a brilliant Henrik Lundqvist and will have been delighted that Rick Nash had a breakout offensive performance but one thing is becoming more regular for the Rangers in the playoffs and that’s the development of Kreider.

Kreider is now rocking a four game point streak at the most important time of the year; he also has seven points in seven. He has two powerplay goals in his last six games for a suddenly hot powerplay and he has two game winning goals in the playoffs, one in a one goal game against the Pens and one, last night, against the surging Lightning. Kreider is stepping up offensively. Kreider has five goals in his past seven games and it’s partly because of Kreider that the Rangers are tied at two with the Lightning when their best offensive players have struggled to find the net.

Since May 2nd, Kreider has six goals. Apart from his tally in the 6-2 loss to Tampa all have been important tallies. He had last nights’ game winner, two goals – including the massive marker against Washington – in the 4-3 game six victory in round two. Two days earlier, he scored in the 2-1 victory over the Caps.  He again scored in the narrow 3-2 victory over the Caps to tie the series at one apiece. Keep going and you get to his game winner against the Pens. Kreider is making a habit of not just scoring goals but scoring incredibly important goals.

Of course, there is the Kreider who dominates opponents physically. He has four games in the past thirteen where he has registered at least five hits, including games of nine and ten (!) hits. Kreider is doing everything he can to become the power forward the Rangers hoped for, particularly when you realise where Kreider often scores his goals from – in front of the net, in high traffic areas. If he can refine his play in his own zone and cut down on the penalties the Rangers may have something truly special in Kreider. Kreider also has eighteen career playoff goals already. Seven of them are powerplay goals, six are game winners. Kreider is proving he can stand up and be counted in the biggest games.

Rick Nash has been an elite goal scorer for a decade but reputations are often enhanced or destroyed in the playoffs. Nash has been finding that out over the past two playoff seasons. Hopefully Nash figures it out to get the true appreciation he deserves. Kreider on the other hand is building his reputation off of his playoff heroics. It’s a great way to build a career.

 

 

Share: 

Mentioned in this article:

More About: