Power Trio: Benoit Pouliot celebrates a power play goal with Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard.
Getty Images/Steve Nesius

Benoit Pouliot has been one of the unsung heroes of this season. Brought in by Glen Sather last summer on a one-year $1.3 million contract, the 27-year old former first round pick has found a place under Alain Vigneault.

After an awful start, he’s become a fixture on the Rangers’ unofficial top line that features leading scorer Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard. The trio have great chemistry and have delivered big goals. Fittingly, Brassard and Zuccarello combined to set up Pouliot’s 15th during Thursday’s 2-1 comeback win over the Sabres. It helped wrap up second place in the Metro and guaranteed home ice for next week’s opening round.

Pouliot is interested in returning. Why not? He’s fit in seamlessly achieving career bests in assists (21), points (36), power play goals (7) and shots (140). In fact, the seven PPG’s ties him with Brassard for first on the club. Counting Zuccarello’s four gives the cohesive trio a combined 18 power play goals.

It’s more than just that. They are consistently the team’s most effective line at even strength. When he needs an offensive spark, Vigneault can send them out confidently. They always bring energy and outwork opponents with a strong cycle. Puck possession is something that’s been emphasized. More often, they come out with the puck and are creating scoring chances. When they’re not finishing, they’re drawing penalties.

Whatever the postseason brings, Sather has an important job this summer. Get the entire line re-signed. While Brassard and Zuccarello are Group II’s, Pouliot turns unrestricted July 1. Given how well he’s played, it’s imperative to bring him back. He’s one of the few players who finishes checks. He ranks fourth on the team with 139 hits. Third best among forwards trailing only Brian Boyle (153) and Chris Kreider (146). Dan Girardi leads the them with 191. Even when he was in the doghouse, Pouliot always brought a physical element.

“They’re interested in re-signing him, and he’s interested in staying in New York,” Pouliot’s agent, Kent Hughes of MFIVE Sports, told Daily News reporter Pat Leonard this morning. “With the playoffs around the corner, I don’t expect things to accelerate until the season’s over. But once it is, there will be time to figure out whether there’s a deal to be done, and there is no reason to believe we won’t get something done.”

Enough can’t be said about the consistent effort they’ve gotten out of Brassard, Pouliot and Zuccarello. Without them, there would be no playoffs. Go figure. Most would’ve viewed them as an afterthought entering the season. Most of the focus was on Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Brad Richards. Plus former captain Ryan Callahan was still around. But a funny thing occurred. After Vigneault benched Zuccarello and Pouliot, they turned it around. Brassard was one of my keys. He also had a forgettable first half. Once they were put together, it clicked.

On paper, this team doesn’t jump out at you. As evidenced by Zuccarello’s team-leading 59 points followed by Stepan (57) and Richards (51), they don’t have a stud. However, the right names have shown up. Nash leads them with 26 goals including a team best ninth game-winner yesterday with 1:42 left clinching second. Unless Zuccarello scores tomorrow or Brassard nets a pair, they’ll only have two 20-goal scorers. Nash and Richards, who bounced back from last year.

What the Rangers do have is balance. Nine different active players have reached double digits in goals. They are Nash (26), Richards (20), Zuccarello (19), Brassard (18), Kreider (17), Stepan (17), Carl Hagelin (17), Pouliot (15) and Team MVP Ryan McDonaugh (14). Before he was traded for Martin St. Louis, Callahan was number 10. They’re banking on St. Louis to finish more once the playoffs start. He only has one goal in 19 games. At least he’s starting to gain confidence totaling four assists in the last two wins including a nifty dish for Nash Thursday.

Along with an underrated fourth line comprised of key faceoff men and penalty killers Boyle and Dominic Moore plus interchangeable bangers Daniel Carcillo and Derek Dorsett, that balance has allowed Vigneault to roll four lines. A successful formula they hope to repeat in the postseason.