NHL

BLUESHIRTS STARVED FOR OLD HUNGER

Here are the Rangers, working on their third three-game losing streak within a span of their last 16 games, winners of merely five of their last 16 (5-8-3) since Dec. 3.

Here are the Rangers, wallowing in the Eastern Conference mire that could become a funeral pyre if they’re unable to string together consistent, hungry and winning hockey before things slide out of control.

Here are the Rangers, who will face the 29th-overall Lightning at the Garden tonight in the first of three at home this week, but without Martin Straka, who suffered a concussion in Saturday’s shootout loss in Edmonton – and perhaps as well without Brendan Shanahan, who missed yesterday’s practice while receiving treatment for the bruised knee he sustained in a center-ice collision late in Saturday’s third period.

“What happened last week [0-2-1] could be the best thing to happen to us because it forces us to focus on where we are and what we need to do,” Sean Avery told The Post. “If we don’t get our butts in gear, we’re not going to be talking about home-ice advantage or who we’re going to play in the first round, because we won’t even make the playoffs.

“Each individual has to look at his own performance and determine whether he’s playing to his potential and contributing to the team structure. We need to commit to each other and to what we’re here to accomplish.

“We’re at the point where we have to. There’s no choice. The urgency button needs to be hit.”

If Tom Renney had contemplated riding his top two units in the absence of meaningful offensive production from the third and fourth lines, the injuries will prevent him from taking that route.

It was the recalled Nigel Dawes skating with Scott Gomez and Jaromir Jagr yesterday, not Straka. It was the recalled Greg Moore skating with Avery and Chris Drury, not Shanahan.

Plus, Avery himself was hampered at practice by a sore hand he sustained taking a slash against Edmonton – productive visit, wasn’t it? – and told The Post he was unsure whether it would require further medical attention that might interrupt his season yet again.

“I’m trying to figure it out,” said Avery, behind already after missing a combined 21 games with a shoulder separation and left wrist injury. “Obviously I want to play through it if I can.”

The Rangers need Avery at his ornery best, that’s obvious, but beyond that, they need to play with more hunger going to, and around the net. They go to the paint, but don’t plant themselves. They get opportunities from the front porch, but are no more urgent about putting them away in games than in morning skates. They take mindless penalties without suffering the consequence of losing ice time.

“Going 0-2-1 was disappointing,” said Renney, who conducted a series of meetings with his players. “There are things I like, but part of our game seems to have vanished.”

larry.brooks@nypost.com