Chris Kreider: ‘Ripped my heart out’ to miss crucial Rangers games

Chris Kreider missed the final and most important six games of the Rangers’ season with an “impact-based injury, a lower-back issue and muscle spasms,” the winger said Monday during the team’s end-of-season media availability.

“Getting injured at the time of year that it occurred was one of the more frustrating things that I’ve ever dealt with in my pro career,” he said. “You’re in position with six games left where chips might’ve been down but I think we had some control over our own destiny if we continued winning hockey games. “It really, really hurt, not being able to play in those two Islanders games.”