Alexandar Georgiev OK with this kind of a demotion

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Alexandar Georgiev wants to play.

No, the Rangers’ 22-year-old goalie has not been disappointed the times he has been sent to the minors for a stint to get starts while Henrik Lundqvist monopolizes the Rangers net. On Wednesday night, it happened for the third time this season, when Georgiev was steady in making 29 saves during the Wolf Pack’s 2-1 loss to the Sound Tigers.

“My mindset is that it’s a great thing for me,” Georgiev told The Post after the game. “I improve as a goalie in those games. That’s my mindset.”

Georgiev has started only seven of the Rangers’ first 28 games, while the 36-year-old Lundqvist has gotten the rest. Lundqvist is having another terrific season, posting a 2.63 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. It’s likely that after this current Rangers stretch, with five days off, Lundqvist will start both games in Florida, the first in Sunrise on Saturday and then in Tampa on Monday.

With the development of Georgiev in mind, the club sent him to AHL Hartford, where he will likely play at least once more, on Friday at home against Charlotte. It’s to be determined whether he will start the second leg of the weekend back-to-back, Saturday night in Hershey, where they won’t arrive until around 2 a.m. the night before the game.

see also

How Rangers defensemen of the future are faring in the AHL

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Here is the truism that makes Rangers…

Either way, he’s likely to return to the Rangers after their sunny sojourn and likely will be better for getting this game action.

“I’m glad that I’m getting playing time,” Georgiev said. “That’s important to me, to play as many games as possible. I’m happy to help the team here. Guys are working hard, you can see that. So I’m just trying to play great games here.”

The two most recent games for Georgiev with the Rangers were not great, giving up four goals on 27 shots to the Capitals on Nov. 24 before the free-for-all in front of him in Montreal on Dec. 1, when it was five goals on 41 shots. But he came down to Bridgeport — along with Matt Beleskey and Vinni Lettieri, who both played uneventful games Wednesday — and gave his team a chance.

“Guys pick better corners in the NHL, obviously. But otherwise, the game here is really fast and lots of scoring chances,” said Georgiev, who gave up the game-winner to Chris Bourque on a four-on-three power play for Bridgeport at 9:59 of the third. “It’s different, but it’s tough everywhere.”

Wolf Pack coach Keith McCambridge has spent time with Georgiev over the past two seasons and sees a goalie (and person) maturing.

“There has been no drop-off with hanging his head being sent down, or disappointed that he’s sent down,” McCambridge said of the affable Bulgarian. “He’s been the same as the goaltender as regards to personality that we had last season. There has been no negative roll-off for him going back and forth. He’s played really good.”

The Rangers are hoping he will return with his game in top form so they are more at ease when Lundqvist might require more rest in the dog days of winter.

“It’s important for me to get the playing time here,” Georgiev said, “when I can’t get it with the Rangers.”