As New York’s season continues on an upward trend — the Rangers are 5-1-2 in the New Year — having a healthy Kreider in the lineup provides yet another boost as the Rangers (21-20-3) try to climb back into the playoff race after a dismal two-month stretch of hockey put them on the outside looking in.

There was something vintage about this, about the way Chris Kreider faded toward the high slot after the Rangers won a faceoff midway through the third period Thursday and snapped a shot toward the top corner,