Kreider gives Rangers 4-3 win over Red Wings to extend Eastern Conference lead

DETROIT (AP) — Chris Kreider scored the go-ahead goal on a power play midway through the third period and the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Friday night.

Barclay Goodrow had two goals to double his season total, Will Cuylle also scored and Jonathan Quick made 30 saves. The Rangers have 108 points, three more than Boston in the chase for home- ice advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Goodrow, who plays on the fourth line, was switched from center to left wing and the move paid off.

“He’s a blood-and-guts type of guy and you need those guys in your lineup,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s nice to see him have a night like that. I thought the line was dangerous all night.”

Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher and Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings, and David Perron had two assists. Alex Lyon stopped 35 shots for the Red Wings, who remained tied with Washington one point out of the second wild card in the East.

“They’re a desperate team. We know where they are in the standings,” Quick said. “We knew how hard they were going to come out and play. That was our goal — to match that, exceed that.”

Kreider tapped in a rebound of Mika Zibanejad's shot at 10:14 of the period. Kreider’s 37th goal allowed the Rangers to get their seventh win in their last eight games. Artemi Panarin added an assist for his 111th point.

New York swept the three-game season series and is now 9-1-2 in the last 12 meetings with Detroit.

“The frustrating thing is you can play a perfect game and lose to a team of that caliber, but I don’t think we did that,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “We just gave them a little too much.”

Cuylle scored his 13th goal at 5:58 of the first period as he stole Austin Czarnik's backward pass and wristed the puck past Lyon to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Detroit tied it just over a minute later on Copp's backhander in front of the net for his 13th.

New York regained the lead with 29 seconds remaining in the period, as Goodrow scored from the slot.

Compher's 17th tied it again at 1:24 of the second. Jeff Petry took a shot from the left side that bounced off Compher's skate and past Quick.

Larkin's 30th goal with 6:41 left in the second gave the Red Wings a 3-2 lead. Larkin converted a rebound during a power play after Perron hit the post.

“We played good enough to get a point or two points tonight,” Larkin said. “I think when you get to this time of the year, every time you drop a game, it seems like a missed opportunity.”

The Rangers needed only 25 seconds to tie it again as Goodrow scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the season on a rebound.

“Tonight was fun,” Goodrow said. “Obviously I’d like to do it more often. It’s always nice to contribute and help the team in any way to win.”

UP NEXT

Rangers: Host Montreal on Sunday.

Red Wings: Host Buffalo on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry (46) defends New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings center Austin Czarnik (21) reaches to collect the puck against the New York Rangers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) knocks New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) off the puck in the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings left wing J.T. Compher (37) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) stops a Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers center Barclay Goodrow (21) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) battle for the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller (79) passes against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp (18) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers center Barclay Goodrow celebrates his goal with teammates against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) shoots against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his goal with Mika Zibanejad against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) scores against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DENVER (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting and the Los Angeles Clippers evened their first-round playoff series against the Nuggets with a 105-102 win in Denver on Monday night.

Christian Braun was long on a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left, and Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 19th career playoff triple-double, grabbed the rebound but also missed a 3, with 1 second remaining.

The Clippers, who lost Game 1 in overtime, haven’t lost back-to-back games since March 2-4, a stretch of 23 games, and they handed David Adelman his first loss in five games since replacing Michael Malone in a stunning move on the eve of the playoffs.

Jokic, just the third player to average a triple-double over a season, had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Jamal Murray added 23 points for the Nuggets, who also got a bounce-back game from Michael Porter Jr. (15 points and 15 rebounds) after his 3-point performance in Game 1.

It wasn't enough against Leonard, who had 21 points at the break, including a pull-up 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that broke a 52-all tie.

Leonard also had a key steal of a Jokic pass with 37 seconds remaining in the game, but Harden missed at the other end and Braun grabbed the defensive rebound with 11 seconds left.

The Nuggets committed 20 turnovers — the same number the Clippers had in Game 1 — and missed eight free throws. “That was a killer,” Adelman said.

Jokic had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers and missed 4 of 10 free throws.

Things got chippy in the third quarter when Norman Powell got away with a push and Murray grabbed hold of him. Official Tyler Ford quickly stepped between the two, but Powell and teammate Kris Dunn were whistled for technicals, as was Braun. Because two of the technicals were on the Clippers, the Nuggets got a free throw and Murray sank the shot to pull Denver to 68-67.

The Clippers rolled into the playoffs as the league’s hottest team, winning their last eight games and 18 of their final 21 before losing Game 1 Saturday night 112-110.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue spoke before tip-off about the need to pick up the pace for Game 2, but the Nuggets outscored L.A. 14-3 in fastbreak points in the first quarter, just two points shy of their season average. Yet, they didn't get anymore fastbreak points the rest of the game and L.A. finished with 18 points on the break.

The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 Thursday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, top right, looks to pass the ball to guard James Harden, bottom right, as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., left, defends in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, center front, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32), forward Michael Porter Jr., center back, and center Nikola Jokic, right, defend in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, top, drives to the basket as Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, bottom, defends in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and forward Michael Porter Jr., center, defend in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, drives past Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)