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Hank keeps Rangers in it, Kreider delivers 2-1 win vs. Blues

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Henrik Lundqvist's (l.) stellar play in goal makes a game of it before the Rangers edge past the Blues.Billy Hurst/AP

Henrik Lundqvist’s (l.) stellar play in goal makes a game of it before the Rangers edge past the Blues.

ST. LOUIS – The Rangers wouldn’t have won Thursday night if they didn’t have Henrik Lundqvist in goal, but they did.

Chris Kreider turned around a miserable night by breaking a tie for the game-winner early in the third period of a 2-1 win at Scottrade Center over the St. Louis Blues, giving the Rangers a lead that was only possible due to the continued magnificence of their determined goaltender, who made 35 saves.

Several Ranger forwards were not ready to play this game, but Lundqvist will the Rangers (35-20-6, 76 points) to an 8-3-1 record since the All-Star break, in the returns of captain Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal from injury to the blue line.

The Blues (35-19-9, 79 points) had won five of six coming in and were missing key starters like Alex Steen and Brian Elliott, like the Rangers without Rick Nash for a 14th straight match. But Lundqvist was the difference across from St. Louis backup Jake Allen, and the Rangers bounced back in a big way from Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Devils in Newark despite playing just as ugly of a game.

They now fly to Dallas to face the Stars on Saturday in their final game prior to Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, with GM Jeff Gorton working the phones and coach Alain Vigneault confident in his team but also admitting he’s seeking upgrades.

“There’s no doubt that I like this group,” Vigneault said pre-game. “I think this group is battled-tested. I think this core group deserves another kick at the can, but there’s no doubt that we, like a lot of teams right now in the league, if we can improve ourselves we’re gonna take a look at it.

“Because of what we’ve done the last couple years, there’s good experience here, and I believe there’s a big will to win. So we’re looking at all possibilities at this time, and that’s why the GM is back in New York, working away.”

It was hard to believe the Rangers were leading, 2-1, when Kreider scored 4:18 into the third period, and it was just as hard to believe Kreider was the one who had scored. When he scored, the shots 32-15 in favor of St. Louis.

Kreider, who has having a difficult season, was demoted off the second line to start the third period after a horrible start. The Blues carried momentum from a dominant second period into the start of the third, but Lundqvist bailed out J.T. Miller’s turnover in front with a right pad save on Dmitrij Jaskin at 3:02, and he saved McDonagh from an offensive zone misplay by denying Scottie Upshall on a breakaway at 4:07.

Derek Stepan skates under pressure from Paul Stastny.Billy Hurst/AP

Derek Stepan skates under pressure from Paul Stastny.

Oscar Lindberg fed Kreider in the slot for his first goal in nine games shortly after, and the Rangers’ penalty kill – which ranks last in the NHL on the road – later killed off a Lindberg hooking minor to preserve the one-goal lead.

Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello, once a dynamic duo, suddenly have become a defensive liability as a pair in their last three games together: a 3-0 team-wide no-show on Jan. 24 in Ottawa, a hideous 4-2 win in Toronto on Feb. 18, and Thursday’s tough night.

Vigneault keeps trying to put them back together, but perhaps it is a result of his distaste for the Zuccarello- Kreider combination that has been defensively unreliable, as well. Their linemate J.T. Miller, who is having a great year, struggled also.

In the second period, for example, Brassard jumped on the penalty kill for an offensive chance and had his shot blocked but didn’t turn back hard on defense. The obvious result was an odd-man St. Louis rush that Lundqvist was forced to snuff out with a brilliant glove save on Colton Parayko, but Brassard’s error was hard to understand.

The second period wasn’t as bad as Tuesday night’s disastrous middle frame in a 5-2 loss to the Devils in Newark, but it was similar in that momentum swung hard away from the Rangers to their opponent.

St. Louis snuffed out a Rangers power play, nearly scoring shorthanded, then tied the game at one apiece at 14:23 on its own man advantage. Kevin Klein turned the puck over and then was outmuscled in front by Troy Brouwer for position on a rebound goal off a Paul Stastny initial shot.

That answered Tanner Glass’ first period deflection goal to open scoring at 13:14 of the first period, off a Dan Girardi point shot for the lone assist, and a forecheck by rookie Marek Hrivik to force a turnover with the help of Dominic Moore.

Lundqvist was excellent again but did not appreciate frequent crease crashes from the Blues forwards, and the second period ended with Blues forward Scottie Upshall wiring a slap shot off the King’s mask. But he stayed in net and finished what he started.

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