NHL

Rangers’ Richards resting with muscle pull

ALBANY — Rangers center Brad Richards, who did not skate yesterday after leaving the ice early on Tuesday with a slight groin pull, said that the issue is, “nothing alarming, that’s for sure.”

Richards, who said he likely will skate today but is unsure whether he would be able to play in tomorrow night’s preseason match against the Devils in Newark, said he’s dealt with the issue before.

“I’ve had a few surgeries there, so at this time of year it’s a little bit of a battle,” he said. “I just want to stay on top of it.

“I felt better [Wednesday] than [Tuesday], but I felt it was more prudent not to skate.”

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Dale Weise is 23 years old, and the big, physical winger who got his first taste of the NHL last year in playing 10 games with the Rangers said he doesn’t feel as if he has any time to waste establishing himself as a big-leaguer.

“For me, the mindset is absolutely now or never,” said Weise, who scored the Rangers’ lone goal in the club’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Devils last night. “I’m relatively young in hockey terms, but I’ve played three years as a pro and I’m ready to be here.

“The experience of being up last year was huge for me. I know the guys, there are no nerves and I know what to expect. I’m taking every game seriously.”

Weise, who stood in for Ryan Callahan as the right wing on the line with Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, scored from in front with 4:21 to go in the third period. Weise, who laid a big hit on Adam Larsson, converted an Anisimov feed.

He also fought in the third with Brad Mills.

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J.T, Miller, the 15th overall selection in this June’s Entry Draft, had an impressive night, improving essentially by the shift to the point where he was a factor throughout the third period after a halting start.

“The first period was OK, I was just trying not to mess up. The second was better, but the third was like night and day,” said the right wing who played with Sean Avery and John Mitchell on the line coach John Tortorella called his best.

“As time went on, I think I fit right in,” Miller said. “The next game will be twice as good as this.”

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Cam Talbot had an exceptionally strong game, beaten only by Patrik Elias at 0:45 of OT on 23 shots in 29:02 after replacing Henrik Lundqvist. The King allowed one goal on 18 shots in 31:13 of work, beaten by a Petr Sykora wrist shot from the right circle.

“I didn’t really see that,” Lundqvist said. “I should have been more active.

“It was fun to be out there. It’s fun to compete.”

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Carl Hagelin, the rookie pro out of Michigan whose speed has been an eye-opener, struggled through much of the match on ice that largely negated his speed game.

“It’s just a great opportunity,” the 23-year-old winger said before the game. “I’m just trying to embrace the moment. Skating is my game. I’m just trying to enhance my game and prove myself as a hockey player.”

Hagelin said he has not received any feedback from the coaching staff.

“But,” he said, “maybe that’s a good thing.”

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Tortorella said the team will take 31 players on the European trip including 18 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders.

The Rangers will be allowed to keep a third goaltender with them for the opening two games of the regular season in Stockholm on Oct. 7-8

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Marc Staal (concussion symptoms) skated through drills for the second straight day.