The question to Alain Vigneault concerned the coach’s level of confidence in Cam Talbot, who yielded a sum of four goals in helping the Rangers to a split of the two games he played in net in place of the injured Henrik Lundqvist.

The answer included a reference to Chris Kreider, who played forcefully in Philadelphia and Detroit in the wake of his recall from the AHL Wolf Pack.

Kreider, averaging 18:50 while playing on the first line with Brad Richards and Derek Stepan, played perhaps the two most assertive games of his embryonic NHL career that’s now 25 regular-season games old.

“What I’ve seen from [Talbot] in two regular-season games and through training camp is, I see a young player with a lot of upside,” Vigneault said. “He’s done it in a short window but can he do it long-term? He’s going to have to answer that.

“That’s the same question with Kreider,” the coach said. “He’s been one of our best forwards; skating, hitting, going to the net.

“He’s done it, but can he continue to do it? Time will tell. Hopefully he will.”

*****

Mats Zuccarello scored his first goal in Detroit on Saturday after having been a healthy scratch in Philadelphia on Thursday. “I had lost too many pucks down low, I tried to be stronger on that,” he said. “I tried to be smarter out there and play my game.

“I put pressure on myself to do well. It’s something you think about at nights. Everybody goes through it, but you have to stay positive.”

***

The Blueshirts were buoyed not only by the 3-2 OT victory over the Red Wings but in the manner by which it was achieved.

“In my estimation, the win was very important but the way we played was more important,” said Vigneault. “We were more involved and more committed at both ends of the rink.

“Our battle level was where it needs to be in this league.”

***

Derick Brassard’s breakaway winner with 13 seconds remaining in OT off a diving chip-ahead from Benoit Pouliot prompted a celebration worthy of a crucial late-season or playoff victory.

“We’ve had such a tough time, everybody knows it, it felt like we deserved to win that game and when we did, it was a relief,” Zuccarello said. “I think there were a lot of factors that went into the celebration, including knowing we were going to be coming home.”

***

The Blueshirts need a point against Montreal in Monday night’s home opener to avoid equaling their worst opening 10-game stretch over the last 61 seasons. The 1962-63, 59-60 and 53-54 clubs each recorded six points with getaways of 2-6-2, which is where the 3-6-0 Rangers stand entering the match. The 1952-53 team recorded four points in first 10 by opening 1-7-2.