The Rangers goalie who could be the odd man out

The future is unknown for Ondrej Pavelec, sidelined since Feb. 9 with a left knee injury and unlikely to get a game before the season ends and the 31-year-old impending free-agent netminder hits the open market for the second straight summer.

“I don’t know what to expect [from free agency], but it’s not something I worry about,” Pavelec told The Post following Friday’s practice in which he got in some work. “I think my situation last year was way worse.

“I’m just trying to get healthy, get back, and play well if I do.”

Before signing a one-year, $1.3 million deal with the Rangers, Pavelec had spent most of 2016-17 with AHL Manitoba. He played eight games with Winnipeg, with a 3.55 goals-against-average and an .888 save percentage. And while he only made 10 starts for the Blueshirts, he had been a reliable back-up for Henrik Lundqvist, notably during a stretch from early December through early January when he went 2-1-1 with a .961 save percentage and 1.45 goals-against average.

That included a 43-save victory in Pittsburgh, a 44-save shootout loss to the Stars and a 30-save, 1-0 shootout victory over the Capitals on Dec. 27.

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“I was feeling very good about my game, so I was really disappointed when the injury happened. I felt awful about it,” Pavelec said. “My first year here and I wanted to be a part of it. The way it’s worked out for me and the team, it’s not what anyone hoped for or expected.”

Pavelec, who has been the Czech Republic’s No. 1 goaltender in four World Championship tournaments and the 2014 Olympic Games while serving as backup in the 2017 World Cup and 2010 Olympics, could get the call for this year’s Worlds. He faces a free agency crowded with back-up types.

“That’s not something I’m thinking about now,” he said. “All I can control is working as hard as I can to get into game shape. That’s my whole focus.”

Alexandar Georgiev will get his third straight start in nets Saturday in St. Louis, as Alain Vigneault stated the obvious.

“Again, I want to find out about this young goaltender,” the coach said of the 22-year-old who has gone .936/2.63 in winning his last three starts. “That’s why we decided to put him back in.”

The Rangers have gone 5-2-1 since trade deadline, with four of the victories coming while allowing at least 40 shots and two with at least 50-against.

“There’s no doubt that when you analyze the games, a big part of those wins has been our goaltending,” Vigneault said. “Those guys [Lundqvist and Georgiev] have played extremely well, but 90-percent of the teams that are winning are getting real good goaltending like we have been.“But there are some strides moving forward here, and we need to continue as a group.”