The fact Chris Kreider appears to have hit the peak of his career as the Rangers enter the thick of a championship window is one of the more underrated layers to this team.
A 52-goal season two years ago unleashed a version of Kreider who has mastered his strengths, such as his signature net-front presence and puck-tipping abilities.
The longest tenured Ranger has now gotten off to another fast start that the club has relied on.
Kreider scored three goals and dished one assist for four points in two games on the Rangers’ 1-1 road trip to start the season.
All three tallies came on special teams, two on the power play and one shorthanded in the season-opening victory in Buffalo.
Since the 2021-22 season, Kreider’s 36 power-play goals are the second most in the NHL.
Aside from his strong all-situations play, Kreider has posted seven shots on goal, which is second-most on the team behind Artemi Panarin’s eight.
Kreider skated on the left wing of the top line next to Mika Zibanejad and Kaapo Kakko.
While the second unit of Panarin, Filip Chytil and Alexis Lafreniere has stolen the show the first two games, the first-line trio have had their moments as well — albeit not as consistently.
In the loss in Columbus, Kreider, Zibanejad and Kakko out-attempted opponents 9-4, according to Natural Stat Trick.
They were on for one goal against, but largely held the edge offensively when on the ice.
There weren’t as many scoring opportunities for the first line in the Buffalo win, in which they were out-attempted 4-3 although those three were high-danger chances.
The Rangers were off on Sunday ahead of their home opener against the Coyotes Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
They are scheduled to skate Monday morning.
With seven total points from defensemen through the first two games, the Rangers are tied for the most in the NHL.
Vincent Trocheck posted a 66.7 faceoff-win percentage in the Rangers’ first two games.
Going 12-for-18 in the first and then 16-for-24 in the next, Trocheck’s 42 total faceoffs are tied for 10th in the NHL along with Toronto’s Auston Matthews, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, Philadelphia’s Sean Couturier and Pittsburgh’s Lars Eller.
The 30-year-old led the Rangers last season with a 56.1 win percentage.
The Rangers will likely want to get goalie Jonathan Quick a game before they leave for their 12-day, five-city road trip on Friday.
With Igor Shesterkin slated for the home opener, Quick could see his first official game as a Ranger on Thursday against the Predators, or potentially the first game of that road trip in Seattle.