Rangers center’s goal proves to be bittersweet after injury battle

The celebration let out all of the frustration that had been building up inside Boo Nieves.

After coming back from a preseason concussion to return to the NHL this month for the first time since last January, the Rangers’ center scored his first goal of the year Sunday at the Garden but was left calling it “bittersweet” as it came in a 3-2 loss to the Flyers.

“It was huge. I battled back from a lot of injuries in the past couple years, and that was definitely a moment I won’t forget,” Nieves said of his first career goal at the Garden.

Nieves’ strike on a one-timer, set up by Lias Andersson fighting to control the puck behind the net tied the game at two just 22 seconds after the Flyers had taken a 2-1 lead in the third period. Nieves celebrated with an emphatic fist pump as the crowd roared.

The 24-year-old was recalled from AHL Hartford on Dec. 15 and has played in all four games since. On Sunday, he won 7-of-11 faceoffs in 9:17.

During Kevin Hayes’ career-high seven-game point streak, the Rangers center has collected five goals and eight assists. The pending free agent is giving management plenty to think about regarding his future as he continues to make a nightly impact.

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“Obviously Kevin’s producing big time offensively,” coach David Quinn said. “He’s doing a lot of great things. Guy with high-end skill, makes things happen. We need him to continue producing at the level he’s producing.”

First-round pick K’Andre Miller made the final cut to represent the U.S. in the World Juniors beginning Wednesday in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. The University of Wisconsin defenseman was the No. 22-overall selection by the Rangers in June.

Miller will see fellow Rangers prospects Vitali Kravtsov (Russia), Nils Lundkvist (Sweden) and Nico Gross (Switzlerland) in the tournament.

“As a hockey fan, I’m going to have a lot of interest,” Quinn said. “Obviously we have a vested interest in the World Juniors and certainly follow our prospects closely.”

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo remained a healthy scratch. … Hayes and Mika Zibanejad have both hit the 30-point mark through 35 games, becoming the first Rangers duo to do so since 2006-07, when Jaromir Jagr, Michael Nylander, Martin Straka and Brendan Shanahan all did it.