Rangers rookie Alexis Lafreniere registers first two-point game

Alexis Lafreniere registered the first two-point game of his NHL career in the Rangers’ 6-1 victory over the Devils on Thursday night at Prudential Center.

With a goal and an assist in the Rangers’ first win over their cross-Hudson rivals this season, Lafreniere extended his point streak to four straight games. In that span, he has registered two goals and three assists. Lafreniere has also recorded a point in five of the past six games to bring his season point total to seven.

“There’s definitely more confidence with the puck, doing the things that he’s capable of doing at this level and it’s nice to see him get rewarded,” head coach David Quinn said of Lafreniere. “I know it feels good for him. I was just kind of joking with him about the goal he got the other night off the knee and in. [Thursday night] was a completely different goal.

“I don’t draw pictures after a game and they certainly don’t tell a story when you look at the stat sheet, so happy for him that he’s getting rewarded for the type of plays he’s capable of making.”

At 3:57 of the third period, Lafreniere sent a crisp feed to Pavel Buchnevich, who sniped it past Devils netminder Mackenzie Blackwood to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead. Lafreniere later wrapped up the scoring on the night with a rocket shot from the left faceoff circle.

“He’s another guy who was very defensively responsible constantly during the season and wanted to play the right way,” Chris Kreider said of Lafreniere. “I was so impressed early on by the little things he was doing in the D zone. He knew the offense was there and the offense was going to come along and he’s just a very even-keeled player.

“He really cares about winning at the end of the day, that’s infectious for our group. For the young guys to see that in the first overall pick. He’s feeling it right now.”

The Rangers have won two consecutive games for the third time this season. Additionally, they have won five of their last seven.

The Rangers (9-9-3) tied their season high with six goals in the win. They also established a single-period season high with four goals in the third.

Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered at least three goals in six of their last seven games and in 13 of 21 games this season.