May 26, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) and Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) during overtime in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-New York Rangers at Florida Panthers
(Sunrise, FL) – The Rangers took their first overtime loss of the postseason this Tuesday. Game 4 in Florida saw yet another attempt by New York to win off the heroics of Igor Shesterkin but fell short as Sam Reinhart sealed a series tie just a minute into the extra period.
The Panthers seemed much more disciplined than their previous efforts after dropping games 2 and 3. The same could not be said for Chris Kreider.
The 12th year man out of Boston College lit a fuse with Panthers’ forward Matthew Tkachuck. Kreider and Tkachuck had to be separated early in the 3rd period, not before Kreider got his hands on his opponent’s mouthguard.
It is alleged that Kreider attempted to throw the mouthguard into the stands, but it wound up on the ice where Tkachuck grabbed it and washed it off before proceeding with it for the remainder of the game. Had he gotten it into the stands, Kreider would have been subject to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty – a potential dagger with the Rangers’ shorthanded woes.
Rather than start an altercation during the game, Tkachuck got the last laugh in a winning effort. He additionally told Kreider it was “the best play he made all game.”
Kreider, who has struggled so far in the series, declined to comment on the incident.
A gritty series through four games is dead even – the comments are as cold and the feelings are as hard as the ice they play on.
The Rangers will look to take the series lead, playing host to the Panthers tonight for Game 5 at 8:00 p.m.
