Kreider scores 30th goal, Rangers defeat Kings in shootout

NEW YORK --Adam Fox scored the deciding goal on his first career shootout attempt, and the New York Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Fox went forehand to backhand and roofed a shot blocker side past Jonathan Quick to give the Rangers the win in the sixth round of the shootout.
"I think he should be one of our top shooters," New York coach Gerard Gallant said. "I think after tonight's goal he's going to get a lot of confidence from it. He's got skill, he's got talent and he made an incredible move. I talked to him earlier in the year about going [in the shootout] and he said, 'No, I don't feel comfortable going.' I think that's going to change now."
Fox said it was his first shootout attempt since he was a teenager playing in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
"I was debating between two [moves], stuck with that one and glad I chose it," Fox said. "The one I did I'm comfortable doing that. I didn't want to overcomplicate anything, so I just made a little fake and I'm glad it worked out."
Chris Kreider became the first NHL player to score 30 goals this season, Artemi Panarin had two assists, and Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves for the Rangers (28-11-4), who have won five in a row at home and five of their past six games overall.
Alex Iafallo and Blake Lizotte scored, and Quick made 28 saves for the Kings (21-16-6), who were playing the second game of a season-long six-game road trip. They defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-2 at Prudential Center on Sunday.
"It's bittersweet," Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar said. "Yeah, three out of four [points] is OK. I guess if it was the other way around, we got one yesterday and two today I would have been a little bit more happy sitting with you guys (members of the media) here. But in the grand scheme of things, if we're going to go three out of four the rest of the trip, it's going to be a pretty good trip."

Barclay Goodrow tied the game 2-2 at 14:15 of the third period with a net-front deflection of Panarin's point shot.
New York got a power play at 18:46 when Adrian Kempe was called for tripping Mika Zibanejad. The Kings killed the first 1:14 to get the game to overtime and finished it off in the extra session, playing the rest at 4-on-4 because there were no whistles.
"We stuck with it," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "Couldn't quite hang on at the end, but our penalty kill came up big to preserve at least a point. When it gets to the shootout, toss a coin.
"For the most part, quite happy with the effort, happy with the type of game we attempted to play. To hold that team to 16 even-strength shots on goal through 65 minutes probably doesn't happen very often."
Kreider gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with his NHL-leading 15th power-play goal of the season at 19:58 of the first period. He scored from in front off a centering pass from Fox, who had carried the puck down from the point.
"Great play by them," McLellan said. "You got the Norris Trophy winner (Fox) coming down finding the leading goal-scorer in the League with incredible hands with about one second left. You've got to tip your hat to what they did there."
Lizotte tied it 1-1 when his shot off the rush went through Jacob Trouba at 11:55.
"Smart play," McLellan said. "He used the defenseman as a screen. A little bit of a hesitation move. A good shot. He had to beat a good goaltender. He used what he could and put it in."

Panarin nearly gave New York the lead at 18:26, but after dangling around Mikey Anderson, his backhand from the slot hit the crossbar.
Goodrow then received a double minor for high-sticking 15 seconds later, and Iafallo scored on the ensuing power play at 19:21 to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead.
NOTES: Kreider reached 30 goals in 43 games this season, the fastest by a Rangers player since Rod Gilbert did it in 42 games in 1971-72. Kreider is also the third player in Rangers history to be the NHL's first 30-goal scorer in a season, joining Lynn Patrick (1941-42) and Bill Cook (1926-27, 1930-31). … Shesterkin has 20 wins in 26 games, the fastest to reach the mark in New York history, topping the record previously held by Gilles Villemure (28 games in 1971-72). … The Rangers are 3-1 in shootouts this season; the Kings are 2-2.