It didn’t take long for Chris Kreider to remind everyone what the Rangers have been missing.
The integral winger returned in Friday night’s 4-1 loss to the Wild at the Garden after missing the previous 24 games with a blot clot that required rib resection surgery. It was a scary moment when he had to leave the Dec. 27 game against the Capitals, but he came back and played full bore Friday in 15:59 of total ice time.
“I felt like it was my first NHL game again,” Kreider said. “I was kind of nervous all day. It was definitely an emotional game for me, thinking about where I was six weeks ago and the position I was in, kind of reflecting on all of the support that I had.”
The Rangers are certainly in a different position than they were when Kreider was sidelined, now in the midst of a major sell-off leading up to Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. But that couldn’t stop Kreider’s enthusiasm.
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“It’s hard because obviously the team is going through a rough time, but I couldn’t stop smiling,” he said. “I’m just happy to be playing hockey again.”
Coach Alain Vigneault put Kreider on the top line next to Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich, and they had some good moments. It was easy for Vigneault to see the speed and intensity that Kreider brings — and has been missing from his team for a while.
“I thought he brought us some good energy,” Vigneault said. “The speed that he brings, that take-away speed that he has where he can push the other team’s defense, it was there. You saw a young man there that was out for quite some time with a serious injury. He really worked his way back, and wanted to come back and help the team. It was good to see.”
Rookie goalie Alexandar Georgiev started his second game in as many nights, having made his NHL debut in a 3-1 loss at Montreal on Thursday. He said he was surprised to get the call, “but a good surprise.”
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Starter Henrik Lundqvist sat for two straight for the first time since Oct. 26 and 28 — not including sitting out the final game before the five-day bye week and the first game after, in early January. Lundqvist had given up a combined 12 goals in his two previous starts, and with the team having three days off before Thursday’s game, it gave him ample time to work with goaltending guru Benoit Allaire.
“Ben has been wanting a little more practice time with Hank, was able to practice with him [Friday] morning again,” Vigneault said. “Alex played real well [Thursday] night, so want to see what he can do back-to-back.”
Rick Nash remained out of the lineup for the second straight game for precautionary reasons, as he is more than likely to get traded before the deadline.
Coming out to make room for Kreider in the lineup was center Peter Holland, who had played the previous 17 games since being called up on Jan. 15. Moving to fourth-line center between Cody McLeod and Paul Carey was Vinni Lettieri, who was called up from AHL Hartford on Thursday morning.