NHL

Nash a question for Rangers, Kreider back

With Rick Nash iffy for tonight’s game against the Capitals in Washington, the Rangers recalled rookie Chris Kreider from Connecticut of the American Hockey League just one day after sending him there.

Nash missed a season ticket-holder event Friday night at the Beacon Theatre, with the Rangers saying he was sick. He did not practice yesterday.

“It’s just a body maintenance day,” coach John Tortorella said. “Yeah, he’s played a lot of hockey.”

Nash has played in all 13 of the Rangers’ games this season, so if he’s too sick to go tonight, he will miss his first game since joining the Blueshirts in the offseason.

It also is worth noting Nash’s head was rammed into the boards during Tuesday’s game on a check from the Bruins’ Milan Lucic. He did play Thursday against the Islanders, however.

At practice yesterday, Nash’s spot on the first line, with Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin, was taken by Stu Bickel.

Kreider, a healthy scratch in Thursday against the Islanders, played for Connecticut on Friday night, registering one shot on goal. With the Blueshirts this season, he has a goal and an assist in seven games.

Tortorella said the 21-year-old just didn’t play up to par while with the big club.

“He hasn’t played well enough to stay here right now,” he said. “That isn’t a criticism. It’s not a negative. It’s just where he is as a player right now.

“This is a good thing. We have Hartford right down the street. He’s going to go play.

“I don’t think he did enough to get into the 20 [on the active roster] here . It doesn’t mean he won’t at a point in time. It’s a matter of going through the process. This is all part of the process. I think [J.T.] Miller has done a little bit more on the puck, getting to pucks and has made more of a difference. He stays. Chris goes down and plays.”

At yesterday’s practice, the Rangers also had Brad Richards back on the second line with Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik — a strong indication Richards will be with that unit tonight.

On Thursday, Richards was benched, seeing only one shift in the third period. Richards said yesterday that against the Isles he “pushed too hard and tried to do things out of character.”

“That’s always the problem with Brad,” Tortorella said. “Sometimes he binds himself up by trying to do too much and caring too much. …He’ll get through it. He’ll be a good player for us.”