NHL

Brashear benefits from Torts’ ‘numbers’ game

The head coach of the Rangers likes to cite “numbers” when unable to provide a logical explanation for scratching players who have performed up to their capabilities.

It’s “numbers,” John Tortorella said about why Enver Lisin is left out following strong performances. It’s “numbers,” the coach said about being Aaron Voros left in street clothes after doing everything asked of him.

But you know what the “numbers” are? They’re $2.8 million, which is how much No. 87 Donald Brashear has on his two-year, over-35 contract. Those are the “numbers” that apply any time this tough-talking coach makes out a lineup with Brashear’s name in it.

Brashear, the 38-year-old faded hitman who lost two fights to Ottawa defenseman Matt Carkner within a span of 8:19 during the first period of Thursday’s 2-0 Garden defeat, missed yesterday’s practice and may not be able to suit up for tonight’s match in St. Louis (8:00, WPIX, WABC 770 AM).

“He’s nicked,” said Tortorella, the primary force behind Brashear’s free-agent signing last summer. “I’m not sure if he’ll play or not. It’ll be a game-time decision.”

Decision? What decision?

What could prompt Tortorella to decide to dress Brashear other than a stubborn belief that his presence on the ice somehow enables the Rangers to play a tougher game? Why on earth would Brashear get a uniform ahead of either Lisin or Voros?

Oh, right. Numbers.

Lisin, who has been scratched from two straight games, skated on a practice line with center Artem Anisimov and left wing Sean Avery.

“He’ll be in there eventually, but I’m not sure about [St. Louis],” Tortorella said. “The two games [before that] he didn’t play that badly. It was numbers. You need to be fair.”

Voros, who has been scratched from six straight games and 18 of the past 20, practiced on a four-man, fourth-line rotation including Brian Boyle, Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins, who has one point (1-0) in his past 16 games.

“I don’t want to single anybody out,” Tortorella said of Higgins’ status. “[Thursday] was a team effort [in showing] a lack of respect for an opponent.”

Chad Johnson, who made 31 saves before losing a 2-1 shootout in Atlanta in his first NHL start on Jan. 7, likely is to be in nets tonight, with Henrik Lundqvist expected to go when the Blueshirts host the Canadiens and Scott Gomez at the Garden tomorrow night. If Gomez is involved in a play with Michal Rozsival, each can pretend the fans are booing the other player.

The Rangers have allowed four goals (including Thursday’s empty-netter) in their past four games and have won only one of them (1-1-2). And they have scored just four in that time. They will enter tonight’s match with a scoreless streak of 144:23, dating to Erik Christensen’s goal at 0:37 of the third period in Boston last Saturday. It marks the Blueshirts’ longest such streak since going 153:38 without a goal in late December 2006.

larry.brooks@nypost.com