Rangers injury update: Matt Rempe back after 4-game absence; K’Andre Miller game-time decision

Facing a dire situation, six games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with six games to play, the New York Rangers need a spark. And they’ll get a big one, literally and figuratively, when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Matt Rempe returns to the lineup after a four-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The towering forward was hurt in a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on March 25, likely during a fight with Tanner Jeannot, though that’s unconfirmed.

Rempe said he spent his time off working on his strength and skating, focusing on edge work. He’s been champing at the bit to play again.

“Ready to go,” Rempe said Monday. “I feel good. No fun being hurt, so definitely excited to be back.”

Coach Peter Laviolette didn’t say who will come out of the lineup, though it appears Brett Berard is the odd man out. Berard played each of the past four games on the fourth line and failed to record a point. The rookie has eight points (four goals, four assists) in 32 games this season.

That would leave Rempe to skate with Sam Carrick and Chris Kreider if no other lineup or line changes are made.

The Rangers find themselves six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the East. The Canadiens have won five straight games, while the Rangers are coming off a brutal 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

The 6-foot-9 forward has really come around in terms of his game after returning Jan. 9 from an eight-game suspension for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Since then, he’s focused more on playing the right way, while still using his size to provide a boost in physicality to the team.

Rempe has two goals and five points in 36 games this season, and hopes to help the Rangers make one final push toward the playoffs, where they’ll likely need to win five or all six of their remaining games in order to clinch a playoff berth.

“I only missed four games, so I still feel in the swing of things,” he explained. “I just want to go do what I had been doing. I think I’ve been playing well. I want to bring a lot of energy, speed, physicality, and just play a really good game. Keep going where I left off and hopefully get a win.”

K’Andre Miller game-time decision with illness; Zac Jones ready if needed

While the Rangers are getting Rempe back at forward, they may be without top-four defenseman K’Andre Miller. He’s been battling an illness, and is a game-time decision against Tampa Bay on Monday.

Miller missed practice Sunday, and didn’t take part in the optional morning skate. If he’s unable to go, expect Zac Jones to draw back into the lineup to replace him, as well as quarterback the second power-play unit.

Miller has seven goals and 23 points in 70 games this season, and averages 21:59 TOI, second on the Rangers behind Adam Fox (23:18).

Jones, who’s been a healthy scratch the past four games after playing 14 straight, has one goal and 11 points in 42 games, averaging 17:05 TOI.

No matter who’s in our out of the lineup, it’s been a struggle for the Rangers this season. But all of their focus is on the game at hand, a must-win if the Rangers want any chance of earning their fourth consecutive playoff berth.

“We certainly are disappointed to be in this position,” Laviolette said. “We’ve got to win hockey games. That’s all we can do right now is take on tonight and look to get those two points, put them in the column, and chase it down.”

The Rangers can earn a maximum of 91 points if they win each pf their six remaining games. As of today, Montreal’s magic number to eliminate New York is seven. They would need seven out of their 10 available points remaining to do so. They face three playoff teams in their final five games. The Rangers will face four playoff teams in their final six games.