NHL

Rangers coach must alter backup plan

Even as the Rangers are establishing a foundation of fundamentals critical to success by adopting a consistent work ethic and embracing the concept the logo on the front of the sweater counts far more than the nameplate on its back, coach John Tortorella is now facing the most sensitive issue of his reign behind the Blueshirts’ bench.

For the coach now must figure out the way to get the most out of a slumping, inconsistent Henrik Lundqvist, the goaltender who for the last three years has been the lone name above the title on the marquee, but who has essentially been outplayed thus far by backup Martin Biron.

It would be no surprise if Tortorella elects to go with Biron tonight at the Garden against the Flames off yet another fine performance in Saturday’s 5-2 victory in Minnesota. If that’s the call, it would mark Biron’s eighth start in 22 games — a year after backups got a total of 10 starts in 82 games.

Lundqvist has not operated in a legitimate two-goalie system since early in his rookie season of 2005-06, when he entered the year as veteran Kevin Weekes’ backup but emerged as the No. 1 by Thanksgiving, if not sooner.

Since then, it has been an automatic for the Rangers’ coach to go with Lundqvist. But it’s not so automatic now, as Tortorella entered this year determined to reduce his No. 1’s workload so he would be fresh for the late-season push and prepared for a two-month playoff run.

So far, Lundqvist has not responded well on the ice to a rotation system. The workhorse has not hit his stride, and has yielded an alarming number of bad goals, including a back-breaker against the Bruins last Wednesday and three soft ones that got him pulled midway through the second period in Colorado on Friday. If Biron plays tonight, it won’t be to give Lundqvist a rest.

If Biron plays tonight, it will be because the coach believes No. 43 will give his team the best chance to win; and, just as important, believes Lundqvist needs a couple of hard practice days with goaltending instructor Benoit Allaire to refocus and reclaim both his confidence and technique, which have come and gone with his aura.

It’s a fact Biron has limited the opposition to two goals or fewer in six of his seven starts, while Lundqvist has limited opponents to two goals or fewer in six of his 15 starts. But that doesn’t mean there’s a competition for the No. 1 job. Or at least it shouldn’t.

Tortorella would be committing no crime by going with Biron tonight, but it would be counter-productive and ultimately self-destructive for the coach not to recognize and acknowledge the Rangers ultimately will go only so far as their franchise goaltender can take them, and that goaltender is the one from Sweden.

The coach must find the way to navigate the gap between challenging Lundqvist and supporting him. He has to figure out how to get the best out of him, perhaps by giving him a string of seven or eight straight starts, even if that means deviating from his original plan to get him proscribed rest.

Lundqvist has been forced to make an adjustment this season. The coach might have to make an adjustment too, in order to allow The King to reclaim his crown.

larry.brooks@nypost.com