Postgame takeaways: Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad score key goals in Rangers' win

NEW YORK - One of the key weapons for the Rangers if they plan on making a playoff run in the coming weeks must be a power play that, when clicking, ranks among the NHL's best.

They sat at No. 1 in that category for an extended stretch in the opening months of the season, then hit a rough patch, but the last few weeks have offered reason for encouragement.

That was certainly the case Sunday, with power-play goals from Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider turning a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead and spurring the Blueshirts to a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden. It marked their league-leading 27th comeback win of the season.

"It's tough to pinpoint one thing, but it goes in waves," said Vincent Trocheck, who was named the 2023-24 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner prior to the game. "Earlier in the year, we were doing really well. We went through a little bit of a lull, but I don't think there was any difference between then and now. I think pucks are going to the net. We’re being a little bit more simple, but as long as we can continue to just be simple, find the open areas – those guys up top, they have great vision. They can see the ice and figure out what’s open."

The Rangers went 2-for-3 on the power play Sunday and have converted 10 of their last 26 (38.5%) across their last 12 games, including critical third-period tallies in each of their last three.

"The guys doing good things," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "They’re coming through the neutral zone with a lot of speed. Recoveries are good, and then there’s good movement. Guys are really working to move and create out there."

Only four games remain in the regular season for the Rangers (53-21-4), who have tied the franchise record for most wins in a season.

They matched the Carolina Hurricanes' victory Sunday to maintain a five-point lead for first place in the Metro Division, leaving them four points away from clinching their first division title since 2014-15. (Which was also the year they set the wins record.)

It keeps them lined up to play the Eastern Conference's second and final wild card, which at the moment would be the Detroit Red Wings. But the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers are each one point behind and firmly in the mix.

"It’s kind of crazy," Artemi Panarin said. "We win almost every game, but there are still teams behind us. But I can’t say we put much focus on that. We're just trying fix our game the right way before the playoffs start."

'I like apples'

New York's first goal didn't come until there was 7:29 remaining in the second period, but it wasn't for a lack of chances.

The Rangers generated 46 shots on goal − including 16 in the opening 20 minutes − and 20 high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick, but were repeatedly stymied by Habs goalie Cayden Primeau. They fell into a 1-0 hole when Cole Caufield scored with 30 seconds left in the first period.

They finally broke through when a Zibanejad pass attempt deflected in off Joel Armia's skate, tying the score at 1-1, then took the lead when Kreider tipped in a power-play shot from Panarin early in the third.

"I try to shoot the puck at him every time," Panarin said with his playful smirk. "I like apples (assists). Why not?"

Panarin added a crucial insurance goal with 13:51 to play − his team-leading 46th of the season − which provided protection when Montreal's Alex Newhook netted a late tally.

Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière followed with a couple goals to finish off last-place Montreal, completing multi-point nights for Panarin (one goal and three assists), Zibanejad (two goals and one assist) and Lafrenière (one goal and one assist).

Panarin is now up to a career-high 115 points (46 goals and 69 assists) as his case for Hart Trophy consideration gets harder and harder to ignore.

"Elite players do that, and they do it with consistency," Laviolette said. "This isn't just a fluke."

A new twist at 1RW

The power play has been an important source of offense, along with the dangerous line featuring Panarin, Trocheck and Lafrenière. But one of the biggest questions surrounding the Rangers with the playoffs around the corner is whether they can generate enough offense if either of those falter.

Kreider and Zibanejad have seen notable drops in their five-on-five production this season, and they haven't had much luck identifying an effective right winger to be their third wheel. That's why team president Chris Drury acquired Jack Roslovic from the Columbus Blue Jackets − a player the Blueshirts believe has a knack for meshing with high-end talent.

But the results through 15 games together have been middling, with a recent dip leading to Roslovic's designation as a healthy scratch Sunday.

Laviolette called his decision to sit the 27-year-old, along with veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson, "a rotation thing." But it couldn't have been about rest after Roslovic logged only 8:07 time on ice in Friday's 4-3 win in Detroit.

There have been signs that the coach isn't sold on the 6-foot-1, 198-pounder as a top-six solution, as he's often cut down his minutes late in games in favor of extra shifts for Panarin and others. The scratch served as another indication, but when asked if he needs to see improvement from Roslovic to solidify that 1RW spot, Laviolette simply said, "I don’t want to read any more into it."

"There have been some really good games where they've been really noticeable as a group of three," he said prior to Sunday's game. "For me, it's the speed and the puck possession when they're on top of it."

The problem is, they haven't been on top of it enough.

The Kreider-Zibanejad-Roslovic line has logged 141:16 TOI while outscoring opponents by a slim 8-7 margin and posting a 49.48% xGF. And while their 55.56% shot share looks good, a deeper dive shows that those attempts have lacked consistent quality. The high-danger scoring chances are 25-17 in favor of the opposition with that trio on the ice.

That led to Jimmy Vesey getting another look on the top line, with their positive results providing plenty of food for thought. They out-chanced the Canadiens, 8-2, with four registering as high danger chances for and none against. They also produced a goal with 3:04 to play, set up by Vesey winning a puck battle on the forecheck and feeding Zibanejad as he charged the net.

"Ves can play with anyone," said Zibanejad, who's up to 26 goals for the season but only eight at 5v5. "I’ve played with him for some time now, too. I think there’s familiarity with each other. I thought we were hunting. He’s a good skater, as well, and he makes a lot of good plays – a lot of the right plays at the right time – and he was great today."

Laviolette sounded pleased with that line, calling them "really good" and "noticeable." He also noted that Vesey can play multiple roles, whether it be in the top six or on a "checking line," which creates lineup options.

It'll be fascinating to see if the coach sticks with that combination for Tuesday's 7 p.m. road game against the Islanders − and even beyond that − or if he gives Roslovic a chance at redemption following the brief reset.

Regardless of the 1RW decision, though, the onus will fall squarely on Kreider and Zibanejad once the playoffs roll around. Sunday was a step in the right direction.

"I thought Mika and Kreids played with really good energy," Laviolette said.

Vincent Trocheck named Steven McDonald Award winner

Trocheck's all-out-hustle style makes him a deserving recipient of the Steven McDonald Award, which is voted on by the fans and presented to the player who "goes above and beyond the call of duty."

The award, which has been given annually since the 1987-88 season, bears the name of devoted Rangers' fan and New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986 and passed away on January 10, 2017.

"Getting to know what the award means over the last year and a half, and hearing Conor (McDonald) talk about it and what it meant to his dad, it's an award that I feel like it measures heart," Trocheck said. "That's how I like to pride myself in the way I play. … To be presented with it was an honor."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Postgame takeaways: Kreider, Zibanejad score key goals in Rangers' win