Chris Kreider was the only Ranger left in the room, still seated in his stall while talking to a writer nearly 20 minutes after Saturday’s 5-2 victory over the Devils had ended.
Then, from around the corner came Mats Zuccarello, held out of the match as he awaits word of his trade to a destination yet unknown. The two men silently embraced. No need for words.
“He’s the first guy I met when I came to New York that first year for the playoff run,” Kreider, who joined the Blueshirts for the 2012 tournament days after leading Boston College to the NCAA title, told The Post.