Tied for first place, that's fine, but Chris Kreider is more focused on the overall situation

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – 60 days from the end, the Rangers are tied for first place in the metropolitan division.

That's good and everything, but Chris Kreider is not easily impressed.

"The difference between the first and the last of our division is comparable to a match or so," Kreider said after the Thanksgiving Day training before heading to Philadelphia for the morning of the Flyers. "You just have to focus on daily tasks.

"We want to be in on it," said Kreider, ultra-focused. "We want to do the playoffs. This is where we want to be. Will it be wire to wire? Anyway, we want to be in the picture of the playoffs. "

It has become a thing in recent years to take note of the NHL's Thanksgiving Day ranking, as playoff teams reach the playoffs about 75% of the time. Last year, six of the eight East Conference teams holding a playoff spot qualified in the end. Only the Islanders and the Red Wings left the scene after Black Friday.

Thus, the Rangers, who are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games and 12-8-2 (26 points) in total, have a lot to be thankful for Thursday, including the return of winger Mats Zuccarello at the training. He has missed six of the last seven games due to an injury to his groin.

"I know that they are difficult," Zuccarello said of his injury. "You think you're good and then you push it too much, especially when you're well and the team is fine, you want to be part of it, so you push yourself a bit, but that's one of those injuries. which is tricky, I have never had one before, so it took me a while to get used to the feeling and what it should be. "

Zuccarello missed three games because of the injury, then came back in the 7-5 loss to the Islanders on Nov. 15. But, having realized that he was not cured, he was absent for the next three games. But he said that he feels better now.

The Rangers will need him against the Flyers, especially as strong winger Cody McLeod, who scored his first goal of the season (and first as Ranger) in the 5-0 win against the Islanders , is broken hand at the game and will be lost for an extended period.

McLeod was injured in a second-period scuffle with Ross Johnston of the Islanders. Rangers coach David Quinn said the Rangers expected him to be away for about four to six weeks.

The Rangers have only 13 forwards, including McLeod, who has not yet been placed on the casualty reserve. To dress 12 before Friday, they will need Zuccarello or a Hartford call.

If Zuccarello could not go, Quinn did not rule out the possibility of setting 11 forwards and seven defenders.

"This is something we have discussed and we have not finalized anything yet," he said. "We hope [Zuccarello] can go. & # 39;

Notes and quotes: Quinn has announced that Henrik Lundqvist will start on Friday. He would not say if Lundqvist will play Saturday at home against Washington. . . Marc Staal and the attackers Mika Zibanejad and Vlad Namestnikov had maintenance days and did not practice.

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He spent more than two decades covering the NHL and almost every sporting team in the New York metropolitan area.