It feels like forever since the Rangers played. That’s the hectic schedule effect. If your team goes more than 48 hours without a game, it’s an eternity. Finally, that changes when the Bolts visit MSG tonight.

The Blueshirts squared their record at 5-5-0 with a 4-1 win over the Islanders Thursday. Rookie J.T. Miller scored his first two NHL goals. Ryan McDonagh posted a goal and assist for his first two points in 2012 and Marc Staal had two helpers. Henrik Lundqvist had 27 saves.

Tonight, they try to at least make it a split for Garden teams. The Knicks lost to the Clippers. The Lightning and Rangers don’t faceoff until 7:30 due to all the dedicated workers who must prepare ice for the change. They don’t get enough credit. Especially with hockey back.

The Rangers should get a boost with the return of D anchor Dan Girardi. Danny G missed the past two games because he was “banged up.” I guess that’s the new expression for the classic term “lower body injury.” We’re already a quarter into the shortened season and injuries are a factor. You wonder how many are due to rust.

Getting Girardi back allows John Tortorella probably to reteam him with McDonagh. Something fellow tweep Kevin DeLury speculated on The NYR Blog. Assuming McDonagh and Danny G are the top pair, then Tort can have Staal play with Mike Del Zotto. Although I prefer the underrated righty Anton Stralman. Both Steve Eminger and Stu Bickel are the odd men out with Matt Gilroy getting the nod as our sixth defenseman. Tortorella will lean heavily on the top four and should reward Stralman for his steadiness.

Brian Boyle remains a healthy scratch. It looks he’s fallen out of favor. A bad start hasn’t helped. He’s looked lost without Brandon Prust. Don’t forget Ruslan Fedotenko either. If Slats had retained them, that would’ve been a much better fourth line than what they have. Jeff Halpern has supplanted Boyle in the checking/PK role. He will center Darroll Powe and Arron Asham a second consecutive game.

I like Tortorella’s decision to spread it out and have Miller play with Chris Kreider and Ryan Callahan. With Marian Gaborik back with Brad Richards and Rick Nash on the second line with Derek Stepan, it gives them a new look. It’s up to Nash and Stepan to find chemistry. Once they do, our team becomes less predictable. Having Captain Cally as the stabilizing force for Kreider and Miller is a plus. Finally, a third line capable of contributing.

Their opponent has cooled off. Since their 6-1-0 start, the Lightning have dropped three straight. The Rangers started it by taking the first meeting 3-2 in St. Pete on 2/2. They then lost to the Flyers and Devils. During that span, they’ve given up nine goals and scored only five. A sharp contrast for a high flying team featuring Rocket Richard winner Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and former league MVP Marty St. Louis.

There’s also leading rookie Cory Conacher. A great story out of Canisius. He went undrafted and caught on with Tampa Bay last year, just missing the cut. Thus far, the 23-year old from Ontario has 12 points (5-7-12) in his first 10 NHL games. He’s one of two undersized rookies making a splash. The other being Detroit’s Damien Brunner, who notched his sixth in the Red Wings’ 3-2 win over the struggling Kings.

Teddy Purcell and Ryan Malone also are factors up front. Their revamped blueline features Victor Hedman, Sami Salo and Matt Carle. Staying out of the penalty box is the key to tonight. The Rangers must shoot on Anders Lindback, who gave up a couple of softies in the loss to the Devils. Take shots and get to the rebounds. If they do both, they’ll prevail.