NHL

Rangers coach waits for Richards to explode

The Rangers often talk about their identity. Coach John Tortorella has helped craft a team whose consistency stems from defense, physicality and hustle.

The success is undeniable. The style is endearing. But prized free-agent signing Brad Richards still is having issues figuring out how best to utilize his strengths on a team where defense comes first.

“I’m a little lost offensively, obviously,” Richards said after yesterday’s practice. “[A] defensive game is the way they want to play here and I’m adapting to that, but I’ve got to free myself up offensively, for sure.”

With just one goal and two assists over the past 12 games, Richards is on pace for the lowest assist total of his 11-year career, which includes the 2008-09 season, when he played only 56 games and finished with 32 assists.

In the third period of Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to the Devils, Richards was relegated to fourth-line duty, but Tortorella said he is confident in the center who helped him win a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay.

“He’ll find his way,” Tortorella said.

The former Conn Smythe winner will play the team he earned it with tonight, when the Rangers play host to the Lightning at the Garden. The Rangers have won their past six games after a loss and haven’t dropped two straight since Dec. 15.

“We’ve been [bouncing back] all year,” Richards said. “It’s not like we were awful [Tuesday]. It’s not like we’re putting our heads down. We just want to have a better start next game and keep that sense of urgency up. No matter how well we’ve done, a lot can happen in the run of seven, 10 days if you don’t stay on top of things.”

The Rangers still are atop the Eastern Conference despite being ranked 27th on the power play (13.1 percent) this season. Despite the addition of Richards, who was expected to be a boon in that area, the Rangers have converted on 1-of-34 chances over the past 13 games.

Tortorella had little interest in discussing the team’s Achilles’ heel, only to say that it looked better on Tuesday, but Richards said the Rangers must improve when they have a man advantage.

“We’ve been winning games without the power play,” Richards said. “Now we want to win games with the power play and get it going so that when we need it to win a game, it’s there.”