Chris Kreider scored a goal and had a nifty power-play assist as the New York Rangers scored three times in the first period and recorded a 5-2 victory over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon.

Kreider set up Ryan Strome's power-play tally with 11:06 remaining in the first period by getting to the right side of the net and making a no-look pass through the crease. Strome finished off the play by coming from the back of the net and lifting the puck into the vacated left side to make it 2-0.

Kreider then scored his 25th goal about 5 1/2 minutes later by jamming his own rebound past Cory Schneider to make it 3-0.

Jimmy Vesey was moved up to the first line with Kreider and Mika Zibanejad and scored New York's first goal.

Defenseman Brady Skjei scored the fourth goal midway through the third period, and Strome capped the win with an empty-net tally in the final seconds.

Backup goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was barely tested until the third period and made 19 saves.

Schneider made his third straight start and allowed four goals on 33 shots.

Kenny Agostino and defenseman Andy Greene scored for New Jersey.

Before Kreider's two plays resulted in a 3-0 lead, the Rangers scored after their first power play expired.

Defenseman Anthony DeAngelo's shot from the point caromed off Pavel Buchnevich, who tried to jam the puck under Schneider. Vesey picked up the loose puck and swept it under Schneider during a goalmouth scramble.

After New Jersey scored, Skjei ended a 27-game drought when he lifted a slap shot from the left point into the net as Kreider parked himself by the net and screened Schneider. The Devils challenged because they thought Kreider committed goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld.

New Jersey scored a second goal off a Rangers turnover when Greene lifted a wrist shot over Georgiev with 7:01 remaining.

--Field Level Media