2012 NHL Playoffs: Chris Kreider Makes NHL Debut in Game 3 with Rangers

With rookie forward Carl Hagelin suspended for the next three games for his elbow to the head of Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson on Saturday night, another rookie forward will join the New York Rangers' lineup tonight as the series with the Senators shifts to Canada.

Chris Kreider, a 2009 first-round draft choice of the Rangers, is making his NHL debut tonight in Game 3 at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario, according to an online box score.

The 6'3'', 225-pound winger from Boxford, Massachusetts, who just won his second national championship with Boston College only nine days ago, signed with New York shortly after BC beat Ferris State in the NCAA title game in Tampa, Florida.

Kreider, 21, led the Eagles in scoring this past season with 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points, which were all career highs for him. All told, he tallied 50-43—93 points in 114 career college games over three seasons, while also accumulating 137 penalty minutes. He also helped BC to the 2008 NCAA title over Wisconsin at Ford Field in Detroit.

Kreider is no stranger to skating with NHL players. He represented the U.S. at the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Championships as the lone college player on the American squad. He also took part in the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships with the U.S., winning a gold medal the first year.

UPDATE: BC alumnus Brian Boyle scored late in Game 3 to give New York a 1-0 win and a 2-1 series lead, as Henrik Lundqvist picked up his fourth career shutout for the Rangers with 39 saves. Kreider himself skated 13 shifts in all, logging just over 11 minutes of ice time and recording one shot on goal and one hit while wearing jersey No. 20.