NHL

Lundqvist could miss Rangers’ next game with ‘minor issue’

The Rangers rocky season continued Tuesday, and there wasn’t even a game to be played.

Henrik Lundqvist didn’t participate in practice for a second straight day, raising concerns he might not be available for Thursday’s contest in Philadelphia.

Lundqvist was at the MSG Training Center but skated on his own and wasn’t in gear. He left without speaking to reporters. The Rangers say he is day-to-day and termed his absence the result of a “minor issue,” without offering further details.

Coach Alain Vigneault said if the Rangers had a game Tuesday night Lundqvist wouldn’t play.

“We can’t say 100 percent sure he’s going to be good to go on Thursday,” Vigneault said. “But I can’t say 100 percent he’s not going to be good.

“He’s getting better. He’s got something he’s been dealing with for a little bit of time and since we had four days between games we figured it was the right time to try to nip this in the bud.”

“He had a shutout [Oct. 16] in Washington. He was in my opinion on top of his game. He just had a nagging little something we’re trying to get rid of.”

If Lundqvist, who has struggled so far this season with an astronomical 3.45 goals-against-average and pedestrian .890 saves percentage, is unable to go, rookie Cam Talbot would make his NHL debut in net against the Flyers on Thursday.

“He had a very strong training camp, I’ve seen a couple of his games on tape in Hartford and I saw one live and he played extremely well,” Vigneault said of Talbot, who the Rangers signed as a free agent in 2010. “We’re going to need him to play here. We have eight games in 15 nights.

“Whether it’s Thursday or after that, I’m confident he’s going to be real good.”