Chris Kreider Cleared, May Play Tonight

It's hockey, and it's an injury, so you won't really know until you know, but Chris Kreider has been cleared to play and may well make his return tonight in game 4 against the Penguins.

Mum was the word on whether the winger would actually be in the lineup in what is essentially a must-win for the Rangers, but it has been confirmed that he has been upgraded to day-to-day.

If Kreider has recovered enough from surgery on a hand fracture that has kept him out since late May, he will provide a significant boost to an offense that has been shut out in back-to-back games.  Kreider's size and speed have been sorely missed as a presence in front of the net and on an astonishingly bad power play that is now 0 for it's last 30-plus attempts.

Official word is not expected until lineups are announced shortly before puck drop.