NHL

Redden still ‘D’ problem for Rangers

Despite benching Wade Redden for the final 37:55 of Wednesday night’s 5-1 defeat against the Hurricanes, coach John Tortorella and the Rangers headed west for a three-game road trip, beginning tonight in Phoenix (8:00, MSG Plus, WNYM), with only six defensemen on their roster.

The Rangers have carried only six defensemen all season, in order to allow their younger blue-liners to have plenty of playing time with Hartford.

The Blueshirts didn’t make any roster moves yesterday to give the team more flexibility on the trip, which also includes stops in Colorado and Los Angeles.

Lacking a seventh defenseman didn’t stop Tortorella from benching Redden early in the second period Wednesday, after his mistake with the puck led to Carolina’s third goal.

The benching is just the latest in a series of struggles Redden has gone through since leaving the Senators to sign a six-year, $39 million contract with the Blueshirts after the 2007-08 season. But the former All-Star, who was taken second overall in the 1995 draft by the Islanders, has left a lot to be desired since he arrived.

Known as an offensive defenseman, Redden last season registered his lowest point total (26) since 1998-99, finishing with three goals and 23 assists. But even after those struggles, Redden’s play has sunk to a new low this season.

In 47 games, Redden has one goal and seven points, putting him on pace for what easily will be the worst season of his career. Tortorella scratched Redden twice in December in the hopes of kick-starting his season, but the moves have seemed to have little impact, as Redden has just two assists since Nov. 23.

tbontemps@nypost.com