Kreider strikes twice, caps Rangers' comeback win over Kings

Chris Kreider scored twice in the third period and the New York Rangers overcame a two-goal deficit for the first time this season in a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.

Braden Schneider, Vincent Trocheck and Kaapo Kakko all had goals in the second period for the Rangers, who have won three of four. Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves.

Kevin Fiala had a goal and two assists, and Gabe Vilardi set a career high with his 11th goal, but the Kings had their five-game winning streak on home ice snapped. Cal Petersen allowed four goals on 24 shots.

Kreider took advantage of two Los Angeles gaffes to put New York back in front 4-3 at 7:06 of the third, beating defenseman Mikey Anderson to negate icing and burying a wrist shot past Petersen at the near post for his eighth goal.

It came just 56 seconds after Sean Walker tied it at 3 with his first of the season.

Kreider added an empty-netter with 49.7 seconds remaining.

The Rangers roared back in the second after falling behind 2-0 in the opening 20 minutes. Schneider started the rally with a shot from the right point that Petersen could not see through traffic 2:22 into the period.

Trocheck benefited from his stick and those of Kings defensemen Drew Doughty and Anderson coming together midway through the second, sending the puck up into the air and rainbowing in over Petersen to tie the game at 2.

Kakko capped the outburst with 1:16 left, sending the rebound of Filip Chytil's shot into an open net for a 3-2 advantage during a delayed penalty and with Shesterkin off for another skater.

Fiala's top-line reunion with center Anze Kopitar and winger Adrian Kempe paid immediate dividends when he scored 35 seconds into the game. Fiala was in the slot to put in Kempe's rebound for his seventh goal.

Fiala then helped Vilardi score on the power play to make it 2-0 at 6:01, giving him his most goals in a full season after just 22 games. Vilardi had 10 goals in 54 games as a rookie during the abbreviated 2021 campaign.

NOTES: New York came into the game 0-4-2 when trailing after the first period. … Chytil and Alexis Lafreniere each had two assists.

UP NEXT

Rangers: At the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

Kings: At the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.