The New York Rangers needed to bounce back after a tough loss to the Washington Capitals. Chris Kreider didn't need long to get them going.
Kreider scored 38 seconds after the opening faceoff, and the Rangers defeated the Capitals 3-2 in the NHL on Saturday, tying their Eastern Conference semifinal series at 1-1.
"It helped us a lot to get back on track and not think too much, just play our game and get the building going," said Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who made 30 saves.
Game 3 is in Washington on Monday, and if it is like the first two, it should be fun. Both games have been decided by a goal.
Dan Boyle and Derick Brassard also scored for New York in the entertaining game that featured a highlight-reel goal by Alexander Ovechkin that made the final 10 minutes exciting.
Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored for Washington and Braden Holtby made 32 saves and prevented the Capitals from being blown out early.
Game two will be remembered for Kreider's early goal and Ovechkin's spectacular tally in the third period, when the NHL's top goal-scorer got past top defensemen Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh and beat Lundqvist with a top-shelf shot as he was falling to the ice.
"It's just an instinct situation," Ovechkin said.
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault was impressed.
"The guys pushed him to the outside and there were almost three guys around him and he still got the shot off from his knees. He's a great player."
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