NHL

Rangers send Miller to AHL with healed wrist

J.T. Miller, returned to the Whale by the Rangers on Tuesday, is expected to be in the Connecticut lineup Friday night at Manchester, his left wrist fully healed.

“I couldn’t wait for his wrist to get better so we could send him down,” coach John Tortorella said before Wednesday night’s 3-2 shootout victory over the Maple Leafs at the Garden. “He needs to play.

“I think J.T. has a bright future, but the future is not now.”

The 20-year-old recorded two goals and two assists in 26 games for the Blueshirts following his Feb. 4 promotion from the AHL, scoring both of his goals on Feb. 6 against the Islanders in his second NHL game.

He had played a handful of games in the middle and most on the right side of a third line centered by Brian Boyle. His ice time had diminished at the end of his stay in New York, his spot in the lineup usurped by veterans Ryane Clowe and Derick Brassard when they arrived at last week’s trade deadline.

“He did some good things, but you could see more and more mistakes come into his game,” the coach said. “That’s the wrong way to develop a player. He’s only 20 years old.”

Tortorella left open the possibility that Miller could be recalled if the Rangers require a reinforcement up front.

* Carl Hagelin looked to the distinctive Garden ceiling in what appeared elation after his first goal in 11 games and second in the last 21 tied Wednesday night’s match 1-1 at 10:55 of the second period.

Except that it wasn’t a show of emotion, but rather one of relief that he’d be able to get off the ice following a hard-work shift in which he and his linemates pinned the Maple Leafs.

“It was probably a mix of me just being tired,” said Hagelin, who came out from behind to pounce on a Ryan McDonagh rebound before slipping it short side on James Reimer from the right porch. “I fell down twice on that shift and was looking to get off.”

* The Rangers failed to get a shot on power plays 3:35 apart within the first 4:58 of the third, finishing the night 0-for-3 with one shot on the man advantage. The Blueshirts, meanwhile, held the Leafs without a shot on Toronto’s two power plays.

Rick Nash, who got 22:04 of ice time, played only 5:21 in the third. Brad
Richards led the Rangers with five shots while Ryan Callahan had four shots on 10 attempts and Derek Stepan had one shot on eight attempts.

larry.brooks@nypost.com