With Rangers' Artemi Panarin out day-to-day, Brennan Othmann steps in amid an encouraging preseason

GREENBURGH – Artemi Panarin, who left Tuesday’s preseason game against the Devils early in the first period because of a lower body injury, did not skate with the Rangers Thursday when they returned to practice after Wednesday’s day off.

“Right now, he's just out day to day,’’ Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said of Panarin.

Panarin, who had career-highs in goals (49) and points (120) last season, won’t play in Friday’s preseason finale against the Islanders at UBS Arena. He will end up having appeared in two preseason games, both of which he left early. He left last week’s 6-4 win over the Islanders with 6:25 remaining in the third period, and then left Tuesday’s game with 12:47 remaining in the first period after playing just four shifts for a total of 2 minutes, 25 seconds.

When asked if he was concerned Panarin might not be available for the regular-season opener in Pittsburgh next Wednesday, Laviolette refused to answer. But Panarin’s linemate, Vincent Trocheck, said “I'm not concerned at all. He'll be fine.’’

With Panarin out, Brennan Othmann took his spot on the left of Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere., Laviolette said those three will skate together against the Islanders. For Othmann, that will make him the only player on the roster to appear in all six preseason games.

For the team’s first-round draft pick in 2021, each preseason game is another opportunity to try and make the opening night roster.

“I think I've been doing well,’’ Othmann said of his preseason. “I've shown my offensive skills and my physical aspect. So, I get one more game in (Friday) and then after that we'll see what happens.’’

A 6-0, 192-pounder, Othmann landed some heavy body checks and fought the much bigger Parker Wotherspoon in the preseason opener Sept. 22 in Boston. He was disappointed with his performance in the next game against the Islanders but rebounded with a goal and an assist in the game after that, at home against Boston. He thought he was up-and-down against the Devils in New Jersey on Monday, but then had two assists in 5-4 win against them the next night at the Garden.

“I think out of the five preseason games I played, three of them have been pretty solid and one has been not great, and the other one was OK,’’ said Othmann, who has a goal and three assists in five games.

With Panarin’s status uncertain, and fourth-line winger Jimmy Vesey now out for an extended period with a lower body injury, Othmann is well aware that could open the door for him to make the team out of camp.

“For sure,’’ he said. “You hate seeing injuries, and I hope that that Jimmy and Bread (Panarin) and even Lindy (defenseman Ryan Lindgren) too, come back quick, because they definitely make the team better. And I feel like there's an opportunity for myself there …  And there was always an opportunity. Injuries happen. Guys get called up. Guys stick around for whatever reason there may be. So it's just an opportunity to go out there show what I could do.’’

Blue notes

Laviolette said Igor Shesterkin will play the entire game in goal, and D Matthew Robertson, who was injured in the preseason opener in Boston, will play, partnered with Braden Schneider … The Rangers assigned C Bo Groulx to AHL Hartford.

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.