Miller rusty in Rangers defeat

This has been an odd month for J.T. Miller, but the Rangers’ 23-year-old winger now is in a familiar spot.

That would be his place in the midst of a training camp with some conditioning still to work on, with some specifics in his game to improve and with a slew of forwards to battle for ice time. It also includes a few kinks to work out, as seen in his preseason debut, a 5-4 loss to the Devils on Saturday night at the Prudential Center.

“I felt good coming into the game, but probably one of the worst first periods I’ve had in a while,” said Miller, who found some traction with a slick assist on a third-period power-play goal for Mika Zibanejad. “I think I got better as the game went on. But I felt pretty good. Good to be back.”

This past Wednesday, Miller returned from his two-week sojourn playing in the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto. He got into just two exhibition games and one game that counted for Team North America, the exciting group of 23-and-under players from the U.S. and Canada. It was a glut of talent, and Miller was often on the outside looking in at the game action.

Miller took his World Cup experience not as a slight but as a learning experience he hopes to get better from.

“I had the puck a little more [Saturday] than I did up in the World Cup, so I think it’s just a little rusty there,” Miller said. “But I’m sure it will come in another day or two.” In Bridgeport, Conn., Lars Eller’s power-play goal with 9:26 remaining in the third period lifted the Capitals to a 2-1 win over the Islanders.

Nate Schmidt also scored for Washington, and Braden Holtby stopped 16 shots. Anders Lee scored for the Islanders and JeanFrancois Berube made 28 saves.