Chris Kreider's goal in third period gives Rangers win in Utah
Rangers right wing Arthur Kaliyev and left wing Chris Kreider celebrate Kaliyev's goal during the first period of an NHL game against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Rick Egan
SALT LAKE CITY — The road trip started so well for the Rangers. Then it dipped a little in the middle, but it finished in the best possible way.
Chris Kreider, playing his second game since returning from injured reserve with an upper-body injury, scored with 9:38 remaining in regulation to break a tie and the Rangers came back three times before pulling off a 5-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night at the Delta Center in the Blueshirts’ first-ever visit to Utah.
The victory wrapped up a three-game road trip for the Rangers with a 2-0-1 record and nudged them above NHL .500 for the first time since Dec. 22 at 21-20-3.
“We’re still frustrated about the one we lost [to Colorado in overtime on Tuesday], but it was a good road trip,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said.
Reilly Smith’s shorthanded goal 28 seconds into the third period pulled the Rangers into a 3-3 tie before Kreider scored the winner. Artemi Panarin had two goals, including an empty-netter that sealed the deal with 37.1 seconds left. The newest Ranger, Arthur Kaliyev, scored his first goal for the team.
Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves and nearly scored an empty-net goal with his rink-length shot, but he missed wide of the left post, icing the puck. The Rangers iced it one more time before Panarin scored his 19th goal, assisted by Sam Carrick.
“I was hoping [Shesterkin would score]. It’s pretty special,’’ Smith said. “I think he should just keep on trying until it goes in. It’s worth a shot.’’
The Rangers improved their record in 2025 to 5-1-2. After starting the trip with a 2-1 victory over Vegas on Saturday, they blew a lead against Colorado with 1:13 left in regulation and failed on a power play in overtime before losing, 3-2.
On Thursday, they trailed 3-2 entering the third period before Smith fired a shot from above the left circle that clipped the stick blade of Utah’s Mikhail Sergachev and flew over the shoulder of goalie Karel Vejmelka.
“If you get a penalty kill at the start of the period, you’re usually pretty fresh, and if you get an opportunity to go north with it, I think you have to take it,’’ Smith said of his ninth goal of the season. “We did a good job stopping them and forced them to rim the puck, and our ‘D’ had a little bit of space. Schneids [Braden Schneider] made a great play and I just got a lucky shot.’’
Kreider then scored what proved to be the winning goal. Carrick (two assists) won a right-circle faceoff back to Kreider and he skated to the top of the slot and whipped a shot that deflected off Matias Maccelli’s stick and flew over Vejmelka’s shoulder to put the Rangers ahead 4-3.
It was a great ending after a slow start. Maccelli scored on a rebound 61 seconds into the game, and after Panarin tied it at 3:42, Maccelli jammed in another rebound — his shot slithered through Shesterkin and got behind him — to restore Utah’s lead at 8:12.
But Kaliyev whacked in a puck that had slithered behind Vejmelka after a shot by Filip Chytil to tie it at 2-2 at 16:25. Getting to intermission tied was a good result for the Rangers, who were outshot 15-8.
“In the first period, when we weren’t on point, we were still able to get the two goals and keep the game close. But it wasn’t a very good period for us,’’ Laviolette said. “What I really liked was the response in the second period and the third period — especially the third period — just going out there and fighting for a win. It showed a lot of character, a lot of heart by the guys.’’
The Rangers fell behind 3-2 in the second period when Logan Cooley scored a power-play goal 57 seconds into the period. They then had a chance to tie it when they got two overlapping power plays that included a minute and 14 seconds of a five-on-three advantage, but the power play came up empty. They went to the third not only down 3-2, but having to start the period on the penalty kill, thanks to Alexis Lafreniere’s cross-checking penalty.
But it was the Rangers who scored on the penalty. Smith stunned the home fans and set off chants of “Let’s go Rangers!’’ with his tying goal.
Notes & quotes: Kreider’s goal was his 49th career game-winning goal with the Rangers, which moved him within three of Rod Gilbert (52) for the franchise lead.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
