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.

On Sunday, the NHL revealed the New York Rangers’ quarter-century team. The first team features many stars from the team’s recent history. Forwards Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad – all on the active roster – are in front of defensemen Adam Fox and Ryan McDonagh and Hall of Fame goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

Kreider had just helped Boston College to the National Championship and now he was thrust into the NHL's Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. It was the Rangers vs. Senators and Ottawa had now pushed the Blueshirts to a game seven. The series had featured outstanding defense and the deciding game was no different.

The New York Rangers have been without Chris Kreider since January 4 due to an upper-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve just as the team started to dig out their hole in the standings. Amid trade rumors and a miserable season,

Chris Kreider has been activated from injured reserve according to the NHL media site as he gears up to return on Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche This comes after Kreider missed the past four games with an upper-body injury.

In his second game back from an upper-body injury, Chris Kreider seems to have captured his usual role back with the New York Rangers. When Kreider returned to the lineup after missing four games, Peter Laviolette stuck the veteran forward on the second power play unit,

The Rangers fell 5-4 to the Avalanche on Sunday. A goal with 14.7 seconds remaining. largely due to a lack of situation awareness creating the turnover and subsequent 3-on-1 breakout, gave Colorado the win.

Artemi Panarin scored two goals, Chris Kreider had the go-ahead goal off a defensive deflection with 9:38 to play, and the New York Rangers rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club.

But coach Peter Laviolette wasn't ready or willing to confirm if either player would be in the lineup on Tuesday night.

The boxing-out issues continued against Utah. A minute into the game, Utah’s Ian Cole fired a point shot tipped by teammate Barrett Hayton. Igor Shesterkin made the initial stop, but Matias Maccelli got away from K’Andre Miller and buried the rebound.

Artemi Panarin had two goals, including an empty-netter, as the Rangers (4-0-2) extended their point streak to six games.

The New York Rangers close their season-series with the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden (1:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 880 AM). Five of New York’s next six games will be played at MSG.