Klein back in fold after one-game benching

It seems Kevin Klein needed just one game to sit and watch in order to get the message.

The Rangers’ stout defenseman was set to return to the lineup for Saturday’s Garden matinee against the Hurricanes after he was a healthy scratch for the 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo on Thursday.

“I feel good,” Klein said after Friday’s practice, when he skated with rookie Brady Skjei. “Just clear the mind today and go back at it and be a professional.”

Though coach Alain Vigneault didn’t make it clear who was coming out of the lineup, the most likely candidate is Adam Clendening, who played on Thursday for just the second time since Oct. 22. If not, it could be veteran righty Dan Girardi, whom Vigneault had wanted to get some rest in the hope of keeping him healthy.

Vigneault did make clear what he expects from Klein upon his return, which is once again being a steady and reliable part of the Rangers’ back end.

“I expect him to play better.” Vigneault said. “Kevin is a gritty defensive-type defenseman that plays with some jam. He can chip in now and then in the offensive part when the opportunity is there. I just felt that the last little while there wasn’t enough urgency to his game. So I’m hoping to see that [Saturday] with a little bit of bite.

“We see that, we’re going to have a good defenseman. He’s been very good to us, very reliable player, in the past. Maybe his game had just slipped a little bit there for an amount of time.”

Forward J.T. Miller missed practice for a “maintenance day,” the stitches in his knee from blocking a shot this past Sunday still “nagging,” according to Vigneault.

Nevertheless, it shouldn’t keep Miller from playing on Saturday.

“He should be fine,” Vigneault said. “He should be good to go.” Newcomer Matt Puempel played just two shifts in the sec- ond period on Thursday and didn’t play again after he needed stitches in his elbow after blocking a shot.

He said he felt fine after practicing on Friday, joining Oscar

Lindberg and Jesper Fast on a line.

Without Miller, the other new line was Michael Grabner-Josh Jooris-Brandon Pirri. Vigneault said goalie Henrik Lundqvist was set to get his third straight start and his 19th of the first 26 games.