Chris Kreider could return tonight for the Rangers. Either way, they must deliver a win in Game 4 or face extinction.

Essentially, it’s do or die tonight for the Rangers. Under no circumstance do they want to go down 3-1 to the Penguins. Simply put, they must rise up and win Game 4 at MSG. They’re not facing extinction but even Alain Vigneault realizes the importance. He emphasized it as a must win to have any realistic chance.

It’s time for our best players to step up. The top line of Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis hasn’t gotten the job done. It’s to the point where Vigneault tried J.T. Miller on the struggling unit for two periods while shifting Nash to a line with Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin. Desperate times call for desperate measures. He also dressed Jesper Fast and Raphael Diaz.

The Rangers haven’t scored over the last six periods. Marc-Andre Fleury has stopped the last 57 shots including 35 keying a Pittsburgh 2-0 Game 3 win. To the Pens goalie’s credit, he’s elevated his play. In Game 2, he didn’t have to work. If not for a strong performance Monday where his team was outshot 35-15, the Rangers might be up. Fleury made critical stops and got breakaway goals from Sidney Crosby and Jussi Jokinen.

Like a broken record, the power play misfired on five chances. Despite actually creating opportunities, they were unable to break through. They’re now 0 for the last 34. Vigneault mixed things up. He tried Diaz on one unit. In place of John Moore, the Swiss defenseman registered six shots. It wouldn’t surprise if he got another game. In a desperate search to find the right combination, Vigneault also had Marc Staal and Anton Stralman on the points. They were victimized by Crosby. With Richards and Ryan McDonagh struggling, it’s put the coach in a bind.

If they can’t get it done on the man-advantage, then the Rangers must at even strength. Vigneault has preached staying out of the box and playing the Penguins 5-on-5. You can’t fault Monday’s effort. They limited the Pens’ chances. It was when they had power plays expiring that they came unglued. A characteristic of a team trying too hard. They must simplify their approach. One area that needs to improve is getting bodies in front of Fleury. For most of the series, he’s had an easy time seeing the puck. They must get traffic and score a garbage goal. The Pens always have players screening Henrik Lundqvist. It’s usually James Neal or Chris Kunitz. The Rangers must do the same to get to Fleury.

The biggest storyline is the status of Chris Kreider. An important piece up front, he’s been sidelined a month and a half with a broken left hand. Kreider has missed the last 19 games including playoffs. He was finally given medical clearance and participated in the morning skate. When asked about his status for tonight, Vigneault termed him “day-to-day.”

If he can play, that would be a huge psychological boost. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything. But being able to add Kreider’s size and speed could certainly help. Under Vigneault, he’s grown into a power wing the coach loves to use as a net presence on the power play. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to conclude that it hasn’t been the same since he went down. Of Kreider’s 17 goals, six came on the power play. He’s willing to do the dirty work in front.

In his place, Benoit Pouliot has done an admirable job as part of a second unit with linemates Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello. The issue is the vanilla nature of the top unit. Everything can’t be on the perimeter. There’s been too much hesitancy from Stepan, Nash and St. Louis. They don’t move the puck fast enough. A good power play will do that and move bodies. They’re too passive.

If there’s a concern entering tonight, it’s that the Pens will not play as poorly as Game 3. That means Henrik Lundqvist needs to be huge. It’s hard to get on him so far. He was good in Game 1 and stood on his head in Game 2. The goal he allowed to Crosby was stoppable. Lundqvist has yet to pitch a shutout this postseason. The Rangers might need him to. Ironically, Fleury outplayed him in the same round six years ago. Poll anyone and they’ll say without hesitation that they’d prefer Lundqvist. At some point later, he’s going to be asked to make some momentum turning saves. If he ever wants to silence the critics who insist he can’t get it done, Game 4 is essential.

Of course, everyone must chip in. The Rangers know what’s at stake here. There’s plenty of experience in that locker room to find it in their hearts to get it done. Win tonight and they put the pressure squarely on the Pens. Give them something to think about.