It’s been a challenging season for Chris Kreider, the New York Rangers’ longest-tenured player, as he’s dealt with on-ice struggles and persistent back spasms dating back to training camp.
After missing four games to recover, Kreider has shown marked improvement since returning, particularly in the Rangers’ 5-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night.
With the Rangers on an upward trajectory — boasting a 5-1-2 record in the new year — Kreider’s presence adds a crucial boost as the team (21-20-3) works to re-enter the playoff race. A rough two-month stretch had pushed them to the brink, but they now sit four points behind the Boston Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s second wild card, with five teams ahead of them in the standings.
In his second game back, Kreider not only scored the game-winning goal in the third period but also delivered a standout performance. He ended the game with a plus-2 rating in 16:34 of ice time, cementing his role as one of the Rangers’ most effective players.
“He was excellent tonight,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “He was one of our most noticeable players. I thought he improved as the game in Colorado went on, with his third period being the best. Tonight, he gave us three sharp periods and had a huge impact on the game.”
Kreider produced his finest full-game effort of the season in a game when the Rangers did not get off to a strong start, which bodes well for the future. Kreider is currently expected to record one of his lowest point totals ever. That might rapidly change, though, based on how healthy he is for the remainder of the season.
Rangers get huge boost from healthy Chris Kreider
Chris Kreider, tied for second on the Rangers with 14 goals, has struggled with production beyond scoring, recording only two assists this season. Despite that, his recent performances have been encouraging. Including his last game before being sidelined with an upper-body injury—a 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Jan. 4—Kreider has scored two goals in his last three games, three in five, and four in eight.
Kreider’s impressive form since returning from injury has earned him a spot back on the first power-play unit, a move head coach Peter Laviolette made during the third period against Utah.
“The power play moves around,” Laviolette explained. “We’ve got good players, and we trust whoever goes out there. (Kreider) is one of the best in the business at the net front. When he was out, the power play did okay—we went 4-for-6—but we hadn’t connected on it yet, so we switched it up and tried something different.”
While Kreider’s goal against Utah came at even strength, his elevated play and return to the top power-play unit are promising signs for both him and the team. After two strong games, being rewarded with a goal couldn’t have come at a better time as the Rangers aim to gain momentum in their playoff push.
Playing Chris Kreider on the third line alongside Filip Chytil and Arthur Kaliyev, who scored his first goal as a Ranger in the win, has added a new dynamic to New York’s lineup. By splitting up the familiar Kreider-Mika Zibanejad pairing, the Rangers have become less predictable offensively. Additionally, Kreider appears to be building strong chemistry with Chytil, who also recently returned from an upper-body injury.
According to Natural Stat Trick, Kreider was on the ice for 14 scoring chances for and only eight against, with a 3-0 advantage in high-danger opportunities versus Utah. He also ended the game with an impressive 2.16 expected goals for.
If Kreider can maintain this elevated level of play compared to his performance earlier in the season, it could provide the Rangers with a critical boost in their push to secure a playoff spot.
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