Rangers activate Chris Kreider from injured reserve

The New York Rangers are getting one of their leaders back.

On Tuesday, the team activated forward Chris Kreider from injured reserve. The 33-year-old was reportedly suffering an upper-body injury.

Kreider was placed on IR on Jan. 5, meaning that the veteran winger only missed the minimum number of games, making him eligible to be in the lineup when the Rangers take the ice against the Colorado Avalanche.

Kreider has missed the last four games due to the ailment. The Blueshirts have done rather well in his absence, going 3-0-1 over the recent stretch, including kicking off their “Mountain” road trip with a 2-1 win over the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights this past Saturday. The Rangers finish up the swing with their first-ever visit to Salt Lake City, taking on the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night.

The Boxford, Massachusetts native has missed a few games already this season. A back issue caused him to miss a game against the New Jersey Devils right before Christmas, though it led to questions on whether the longest-tenured Ranger would be traded. Another upper-body injury also led to Kreider missing a couple of games around American Thanksgiving.

Kreider has been having a very goal-heavy level of production this season, offensively. Through 34 games, he has scored 13 goals and two assists for 15 points. The scoring pace is subpar compared to last season, when he almost matched his career-high in points, notching 75 points in 82 games, helping the Rangers win the President’s Trophy.

In 849 NHL appearances, all with the Rangers, Kreider has scored 317 goals and 250 assists for 567 points. He’s also registered 76 points in 123 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Rangers (20-20-2) are seventh in the Metropolitan Division, five points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.