Rangers' Artemi Panarin could play for the first time this preseason

GREENBURGH – J.T. Miller missed practice for a second straight day and won’t play in Thursday’s preseason game against the Devils at the Garden, according to Rangers coach Mike Sullivan. But Artemi Panarin, who missed practice all of last week while dealing with a lower-body injury, has practiced this week and could play for the first time in the preseason.

“I don't know yet, but probably, it looks like,’’ Panarin said after the Rangers’ hour-and-20-minute practice Wednesday.

“I don't know whether we're going to put him in the lineup tomorrow or not,’’ Sullivan said. “But we really like the way it's trending, and I think the last couple of days have been quality practices for him.’’

Thursday’s game is the second-to-last of the preseason, which concludes Saturday afternoon in Boston against the Bruins. So time is running out for Panarin to get some playing time before the regular season begins Tuesday. And the 33-year-old (he turns 34 Oct. 30) said he’d like to get a game or two before the season starts.

“I think it's very important have couple games, at least, just to get a feel for timing,’’ he said. “It's more about, probably, timing; it's not about conditioning, all that stuff, it’s just feeling like, how fast people move around you, how is the puck moving? Just kind of really remind yourself of some things. And then the season starts.’’

Panarin, who led the team in scoring last season with 89 points (37 goals, 52 assists), left practice on Sept. 19 with an injury, took a few days off, then skated on his own for three days before returning to practice in a non-contact jersey last Friday. He wore a regular, full-contact jersey this week at practice.

“He looks good,’’ Sullivan said of Panarin. “He looks strong. Obviously, he's an incredible player. You know, the things he does with the puck -- he's a unique player in that regard.’’

With 10 NHL seasons on his resume, the last six with the Rangers, Sullivan was asked how important it is for a player such as Panarin to get into a preseason game or two.

“In a perfect world, you'd like to have everybody get at least a game, preferably two would be even better in a perfect world,’’ Sullivan said. “But as we all know, the world's not perfect. And so, I'm sure, regardless of whether or not he gets one or he doesn't get one, he's going to be fine.’’

As for Miller, who suffered what the Rangers called a lower-body injury in practice Monday, Sullivan didn’t answer the question of whether the new captain is in any danger of not being ready for the regular-season opener.

“My understanding is that is he's day-to-day,’’ he said. “We're obviously erring on the side of caution. He will not play [Thursday]. I'll tell you that. We'll make decisions from there. But I believe that, you know, he's trending the right way, and we'll get him back on the ice in a timely manner.’’

Blue notes

C Sam Carrick, who was scratched from Monday’s game against the Islanders and missed practice Tuesday with a lower-body injury, returned to practice in a red, no-contact jersey…  F Brendan Brisson and D Connor Mackey cleared waivers and were assigned to AHL Hartford… D Casey Fitzgerald was placed on waivers, reducing the Rangers’ roster to 26 players.

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.