It has certainly been an exciting and interesting ride for Chris Kreider.
The former Masco player went from wearing his town colors and the Warrior blue and gold to playing for
Team USA, winning a national championship with Boston College and now
scoring two game-winning goals for the New York Rangers in just five
games. The New York Rangers currently lead the Washington Capitals 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Although it is hard to imagine the emotions running
though Kreider and his family right now, there is no question that the
excitement for so many associated with the Valley Hockey League is palpable. After all, it’s not that often that they see a
former player enjoy so many career highlights in such a short period
of time.
After winning a
National Championship with Boston College earlier this month, Kreider
signed on with the New York Rangers (he was that team’s No. 19 pick at
the 2009 NHL Entry Draft).
It didn’t take him long to find his
comfort zone in the NHL. Despite not playing in one regular season,
Kreider netted his first career playoff goal in just his third game...
and what a goal it was. His goal gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead heading
into the third period against Ottawa and proved to be the game winner.
“There’s
been no pressure from management or anything. They just tell me to go
out and play hockey,” Kreider told the New York Post. “I
think I’ll look back on it and be extremely happy and be able to smile.
But the thing that’s important is we were able to come away with the
win.”
Days later, Kreider delivered again when he
blasted a 43-foot slap shot past Washington goalie Braden Holtby.
Kreider’s goal broke open what had been a gridlocked game, giving the
Rangers a 2-1 lead over the Washington Capitals in the first game of the
Eastern Conference semifinals.
“It was a surreal experience — I got goose bumps,” Kreider told the New York Times about
hearing his name chanted by the crowd. “I was really tired after the
goal, but I didn’t feel so tired when they started chanting.
