Chris Kreider’s power-play whiff emblematic of Rangers issue at key time

The NHL’s best power-play, net-front presence over the past half-decade had the puck on his stick with the near side of the Carolina net wide open after a perfect backdoor pass. 

But Chris Kreider could not quite control the puck as it slipped off his stick into the crease, allowing Freddie Andersen to make a desperation left toe save midway through the second period of Tuesday night’s Garden match against Carolina in what at the time was a 1-0 game for the Canes. 

The league’s best power-play, net-front presence over the past half-decade has not scored with the man-advantage since Dec. 30. He has scored one PPG in his 21 games since Dec. 2. 

“We’ve talked about this. I believe in the law of averages and right now, I’m batting under the average,” Kreider told The Post following what turned into a deflating 4-0 defeat. “I’m going to wait for that to regress toward the mean and for me to start putting those chances in and continue to put myself in the right spots and get those chances.”