Chris Kreider, a healthy scratch for the first time since John Tortorella’s reign behind the bench ended following 2012-13, is no victim.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider was a healthy scratch Monday against the New Jersey Devils for the first time this season.The Rangers lost their fourth straight home game 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, then fell 5-0 to the Devils in Newark. New York has been in a freefall since winning at Vancouver on Nov. 19. The Rangers now have lost 13 of their last 17 games - all in regulation time - as Kreider and longtime linemate Mika Zibanejad have particularly struggled.Forward Jonny Brodzinski was added to Monday's roster against New Jersey in Kreider’s place.“It was just a lineup decision. We just need more,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said regarding the scratching of his team's most-senior player. “Any time you talk to a player about not being in the lineup, it's never an easy conversation. At the end of the day, we're not playing a brand that we need to play in order to be successful.

The decision to sit the longest tenured Ranger comes amid the club’s 4-12 skid and free fall in the standings to sixth in the Metropolitan Division and 22nd in the NHL.