Kreider out with clot but still staying close

Chris Kreider, who is scheduled to meet with his medical team early this week as physicians on the case devise a plan to respond to the blood clot in his right arm, is expected to chat with his teammates prior to Monday’s Winter Classic against the Sabres at Citi Field.

“I saw Chris [Saturday] at the [practice] rink,” coach Alain Vigneault said following his team’s skate at the Mets’ ballpark. “He was in good spirits and he’ll probably come down [Monday] to see his teammates.”

It is not known whether the cause of the clot — diagnosed after the winger left the Garden ice com- plaining of swelling and discomfort following the first period of Wednesday’s match against Washington — has yet been identified.

The best-case scenario is the 26year-old winger might be able to return by late February. But the possibility exists Kreider could be sidelined for a substantially longer time depending upon the cause of the clot and the course of action necessary to heal it.

Perhaps it was an optical illusion created by the dramatic change in depth perception and spatial relationships with the rink in the middle of a major league baseball stadium and not nestled into the familiar dimen-

The Rangers and the NHL are advising fans to take mass transit for Monday’s 1 p.m. scheduled puck-drop at Citi Field, noting that “parking space is extremely limited.”

Kevin Shattenkirk is playing in his second straight Winter Classic after skating for the Blues at Busch Stadium in last year’s 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks.

“It was very, very special,” Shattenkirk said. “It was great for the city. It kind of justified for the world how St. Louis is a hockey city.”

Vigneault, meanwhile, called Shattenkirk, “a work in progress,” suggesting that the New Rochelle native has put extra and counterproductive pressure on himself in the wake of signing the four-year, $26 million free-agent contract with his hometown team.

“Our expectations and his expectations have been a little bit higher,” the coach said. “He’s very hard-working and very accountable to his performance. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of time.”

A welcome back to Kyle Okposo, who spent eight seasons with the Islanders before opting to join the Sabres as a free agent during the summer of 2016.

“I lived about 15 minutes from here,” the winger said. “To be playing at Citi Field is pretty cool. It’s fun.”