WASHINGTON — This was when Chris Kreider was a puppy in this league and surrounded by veteran teammates such as Martin St. Louis.

“I remember how the guys would follow Marty around the ice and try to do the things he would do,” Kreider told the Post before scoring a goal in the game. Blueshirts lose 5-3 against the Capitals Tuesday. “I didn’t necessarily follow him because I knew I would never be able to do some of the things he did every shift, but that approach always stuck with me.

“Now it’s kind of my turn if I can be helpful. It’s a kind of responsibility, right?

Kreider has primary value as a power play mentor in front of the net.

He spent the final minutes of practices and game days watching Kaapo Kakko, who occupies that spot on the second power play unit, on the intricacies of the position. Will Cuylle sometimes steps in.

“We’re talking about one of the best in the game at being present in front of the net, getting his stick on pucks for tips and rebounds, screens, when to stay away from the goalie, when to get on the goalkeeper,” said the head coach. » declared Pierre Laviolette. “Chris is really good.

“He sometimes sat off the ice and sometimes on the ice, working with the players. (The idea) came from both of us – him and us.

Kreider’s 53 power play goals since the start of 2021-22 – he scored one in this one on the right doorstep – rank him third in the NHL behind Leon Draisaitl’s 77 PPG and 59 by Sam Reinhart.

Kakko has a career total of six power play goals.

“I think guys started to gravitate toward that area of ​​the ice. There was a conversation, I looked up and all of a sudden a few guys wanted to get reps,” Kreider said. “So let them participate and if there are a few things that I see, you don’t want to be overwhelming, but maybe suggest some small adjustments that give you a better chance of being successful at different positions.

“These guys are very receptive. You can’t take a guy to the water, but if you see younger guys working on things that you’ve worked on a little bit and they’re open to it, that’s what you do.

Matt Rempe returned to the lineup after a two-game weekend with the Wolf Pack and dropped the gloves with former Rangers first rounder Dylan McIlrath at 2:37 of the first period, five seconds after stepping onto the ice.

The Blueshirts’ No. 10 selection in the 2010 draft rocked Rempe with a series of hits.

Both fighters had fought in the AHL in November 2022.

Jonny Brodzinski was put in street clothes in Rempe’s return to duty while Victor Mancini replaced Zac Jones at fullback after the rookie missed his first game on Saturday.

Alex Ovechkin scored his third and fourth goals of the season in the first period, bringing his career total to 857, 37 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894.

The Blueshirts return to the Garden for a Friday game against Ottawa before the Islanders visit Sunday afternoon.