Kreider head shot not believed to be serious

DETROIT — This could have been a huge problem for the Rangers as they look ahead to the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

But despite their most attractive trade chip, Chris Kreider, taking a knee to the head early in the second period and not returning to the team’s 1-0 win over the Red Wings on Saturday night, the club didn’t seem overly concerned with the injury. Coach David Quinn said it was not a concussion, and Kreider was already feeling better after the game.

“It’s upper-body, and we don’t think it’s anything long-term,” Quinn said. “Surprising after you look at it. It looked tough. But he’s already feeling a lot better.”

The play happened when Kreider fell down near the corner, and teammate Mika Zibanejad was coming around the boards and had to jump to get over Kreider. In doing so, Zibanejad’s right knee slammed into the side of Kreider’s head, snapping it back.

Kreider was slow to get up and go to the locker room, presumably going through the league’s mandated concussion protocol. But the 28-year-old, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, stayed there, making for a nervous hour or so in Rangersland.

➤ Quinn went back to the two new defensive pairs he concocted over the break: Ryan LindgrenJacob Trouba and Brady Skjei

Adam Fox. They had been broken up at the end of Friday night’s game, but were reunited and stayed together for this one.

➤ Brett Howden also started where he finished Friday night, on the third-line wing next to Filip Chytil and Kappo Kakko. That had bumped Brendan Lemieux to the fourth line, but when Kreider went down, Lemieux got most of his shifts on the first line with Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich.