Sports

Strome, Kreider Lead Rangers To Win Over Bruins

February 27, 2021 / 12:11 AM EST / CBS New York

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NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists and Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist in New York's three-goal second period, leading the Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday night.

Julian Gauthier, Colin Blackwell, Pavel Buchnevich and Jonny Brodzinski also scored to help the Rangers get their third win in four games. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren each had two assists, and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 31 shots to improve to 2-0-2 in his last four starts.

"I really liked an awful lot about our game tonight," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "We were ready to play from the drop of the puck. We had all four lines going, our D corps played well and our goalie played well. It was truly a team effort."

With fans back at Madison Square Garden for the first time this season, the Rangers beat Bruins for the first time in three meetings. Boston was 5-0-1 in the previous six games with the Rangers.

After the game, the Rangers gathered at center-ice to salute the 1,800 fans in attendance before skating off. Several players gave their sticks to some of the fans.

"It felt like it was pretty full," Strome said of the fans' return. "I had some goosebumps in the national anthem. Has been a while since I felt those. They definitely brought us energy. ... It was great, sound-wise and visually, just seeing people and seeing people cheer. Just a little more excitement and buzz. It was awesome."

Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist, Patrice Bergeron also scored and David Pastrnak had two assists for Boston. Tuukka Rask finished with 28 saves in the Bruins' fourth loss in five games.

The Bruins, who lost 7-2 at the New York Islanders on Thursday night, had not given up more than four goals in their first 16 games.

"Hockey is about making sure we stay together as a team when things are up or when things are down," Bergeron said. "It's about figuring out as fast as you can things you can get better at and right now it's obviously our 5-on-5 play defensively and giving up easy plays."

The teams play again in New York on Sunday to complete a two-game series.

With Boston trailing 1-0, Jack Studnicka nearly tied the score early in the second period with a shot that hit off the crossbar.

The Rangers doubled the lead shortly after that. On a rush, Alexis Lafreniere sent a cross-ice pass to Strome, who tapped it in past Rask from the right side for his sixth at 2:32. Lafreniere, the top overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, got his first career assist.

Bergeron pulled the Bruins to 2-1 just 90 seconds later, scoring from the right doorstep off Pastrnak's pass from the left circle.

Charlie Coyle hit a goal post on a Bruins power play with about 6:50 left.

Blackwell tipped Adam Fox's one-timer from the point on a power play to push the lead to 3-1 with 1:08 remaining in the second. It was Blackwell's third goal in five games.

Kreider gave the Rangers a three-goal lead just 12 seconds later as his shot from a sharp angle deflected off Coyle's left skate and past Rask for his ninth. Kreider, who had his third career hat trick against Philadelphia on Tuesday night, scored for the third straight game.

"They get that one to make it 2-1, I thought they were coming," Quinn said. "We had some lucky breaks on the penalty-kill, we get the huge power-play goal and Kreids gets that goal right away."

Buchnevich made it 5-1 on a tip-in 1:45 into the third, and Brodzinski got his first with the Rangers as he scored on a diving tip of a pass from Kevin Rooney at 3:43.

Marchand got the Bruins within four as he swooped in and knocked in the rebound of Pastrnak's shot at 7:51 for his 10th. It was Marchand's 300th career goal.

Gauthier got the Rangers on the scoreboard with 6:44 left in the first, firing a shot from the left circle between a screened Rask and the left post for his second career goal.

STREAKS

Kreider, who had his third career hat trick against Philadelphia on Tuesday night, scored for the third straight game. He has five goals and an assist in that stretch. ... Strome extended his point streak to four games.

POWER PLAYS

The Bruins are 3 for 21 on the power play over their last eight games after going 12 for 34 over the first 10.

The Rangers scored a power-play goal for the fourth straight game, going 5 for 19 over that stretch. They were 2 for 31 over their previous 10 games.

MOVING UP

Bergeron's goal gave him 889 career points, breaking a tie with Bobby Orr to take over sole possession of fifth place on the Bruins' franchise list.