He practiced and will be in goal tonight as the Rangers take on the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

“It was only me and I’m fine,” he said with a grin. “There are just a few scratches on the car. It could have been worse.”

Sure, but Lundqvist wasn’t taking any chances. Going to the Coliseum today, Lundqvist took car service.

***

Not as fortunate as Lundqvist, Marian Gaborik is out for tonight’s game with a lower leg injury. He will be replaced on the roster by P.A. Partenteau.

Yet, the rookie called up from Hartford won’t replace Gaborik’s top of the standings scoring. Coach John Tortorella expects the rest of the team to step up with players like Chris Higgins, Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan taking more minutes, and hopefully get out their scoring slumps.

“On the power play, we’re going to have to put someone in there,” Tortorella said. “Obviously we’re gonna miss him.”

There’s no word on when Gaborik will skate again or if he will play on Friday in Minnesota against his old team, the Wild.

***

With the World Series starting tonight, the Rangers chirped with some predictions. Obviously most of the team predicted the Yankees, especially Yankee fans Chris Drury and Matt Gilroy, both of whom said Yankees in six.

Other predictions Henrik Lundqvist, PA Parenteau, and Michael Del Zotto said Yankees in 6. Enver Lisin said the Yankees, although he also said he roots for the Dallas Cowboys.

Going against type, Aaron Voros went with the Jimmy Rollins prediction of Phillies in 5 and Red Sox fan Brian Boyle said Phillies in 6, because I can bring myself to pull for the Yankees.”

No it was just coincidence the opening of the NHL season happened on a chilly night and what better way for the New York Rangers to debut than to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins hoist the Stanley Cup one more time.

A tough match-up, which gave the Blueshirts a barometer on how far they need to go, went pretty much as expected. Although they competed and the the scoring came from the right places, the Pens ultimately prevailed, 3-2.

“It just feels good to have the first game over with,” said netminder Henrik Lundqvist to reporters, who stopped 28 shots on the night. “It’s been a long week just practicing, just wanting to get going. The result is not what we were looking for, but still, we did a lot of good things. Third period, we came back pretty good.”

The Rangers never led in the match after Evgeni Malkin put the Pens on the board, just 7:48 into the first. A power play goal, showed the true power of the Stanley Cup Champs.

Yet, the Rangers showed resilience and tied the match about four minutes later, when Chris Higgins down low took a shot from the corner at Marc-Andre Fluery (25 saves), which was tipped in by captain Chris Drury.

Ultimately, though, the game was lost in the second when the Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy scored 1:08 apart. It was just too much for the Blueshirts to overcome.

“That third goal was a very important goal in the game, and I think we just gave it to them,” said coach John Tortorella to reporters in Pittsburgh. “We’re breaking out of our end zone, we lose the puck, we’re not strong on the puck, point shot goes in. That put us in a hole.”

And one that became insurmountable. Although Marian Gaborik cut the Penguin lead in half, the Rangers couldn’t overcome that lead.

Yet, don’t fret the Rangers return to a more comfortable atmosphere tonight as they take on the Ottawa Senators in their home opener.

“I’m looking forward to the home opener at the Garden,” Lundqvist said to reporters. “It should be a different atmosphere.”

Notes: Michael Del Zotto became the first 19 year-old to make his Rangers debut on the blue line since Brian Leetch in 1988…Matt Gilroy also made his NHL debut. The 25 year-old was plus-2 in 19:58.

Predictably, many Ranger fans were at a loss for words, questioning handing out such a deal to a question mark a day after Sather unloaded cap headache Scott Gomez to Montreal that landed Chris Higgins and top prospect Ryan McDonagh.

So, is it time to panic yet again in Ranger land? No. It’s a little premature to start going nuts over whether Gaborik will play 82 games or the running joke of 20 starting next season. Let me be clear on something. A lot has been said about this deal. The words “injury risk” has been tossed around repeatedly more than Paris Hilton jumps in the sack. Heck. I even used it here.

Anytime you sign a player long-term, there’s always the chance they could get hurt. Unfortunately, that’s the risk you run when you commit a big salary to a star player. While it’s true Gaborik doesn’t have the best track record, it also applies to any other free agent as well. Wonder how Chicago feels about Marian Hossa being there for a dozen years? You can bet your bottom dollar a Cup starved city (1961 folks) that hasn’t seen the hardware since Bobby Hull was blistering 130 MPH slapshots will be holding their collective breath.

Any player can go down at any moment. Last season, the previously durable Martin Brodeur missed over 50 games with the Devils. No one saw that coming. So, there will always be that high risk with a player who played in only 17 games last season, totaling 23 points (13-10-23) due to Wild team doctors misdiagnosing a bad groin, which really was a hip injury that required surgery. Oddly enough, the previous season, Gabby missed just five games totaling career highs in goals (41), assists (42), points (83) and plus/minus (17).

Make no mistake about it. When healthy, the 27 year-old Slovak is one of the elite scorers in the game. When’s the last time this team had a player of this talent in their prime? Of course, many would say Jaromir Jagr, who had a remarkable 2005-06 establishing new franchise single season marks in goals (54) and points (123)- leading the club back to the postseason. Too bad for the Rangers No.68 was 33 going on 34 with production dropping his final two seasons (‘06-07: 30-66-96, ‘07-08: 25-46-71) on Broadway. Makes ya wonder what he might have done had the team gotten him when the Pens refused to grant his wish instead sending him to Washington.

There’s no point in looking at previous rosters. We could reference any big name and it would draw the same negative reaction. We’ve had plenty of stars who came here and didn’t panout. Most including concussion risk Eric Lindros-who had the club in first before the roof caved in- had already seen their best days. You have to go back to Mark Messier, who against the odds led the franchise to hockey’s pinnacle.

Should Gaborik be mentioned in the same breath as one of the greatest leaders in all of sports? Of course not. However, his best days still might be ahead. Over eight seasons with Minnesota playing for conservative coach Jacques Lemaire, the former 2000 third overall pick finished with 219 goals and 218 assists for 437 points in 502 games. Despite missing 65 games in 2008-09, he still averaged over 62 games for his Wild career. In each of the first five seasons, he played in 65-or-more contests.

Aside from 2006-07 in which he got into 48 and this past season, Gaborik’s played in at least 65 six of his first eight NHL campaigns. Five of those seasons have seen the electrifying right wing produce 30-or-more goals including the injury riddled ‘06-07. Yes. He scored 30 in 48. The Rangers haven’t had a 30-goal scorer since Jagr in 2006-07 when the club took a deeper Buffalo team six games before falling in the Conference Semis.

Once Gaborik puts that No.10 Ranger jersey on, he automatically becomes the most dangerous player we’ve had since Jagr. And here’s the thing. Despite the injuries, all you had to do was see how he looked towards the end of this season to know that he hadn’t lost a step or the tremendous skill, putting up 18 points the last 11 games including 10 markers following hip surgery. In fact, he finished the year on a seven-game point streak (7-6-13)- nearly getting Minnesota in the postseason despite playing for a coach he supposedly didn’t get along with.

That’s how physically gifted Gabby is. Is it boom-or-bust for the Rangers? No doubt. There will continue to be plenty of questions until it all starts for real this October. That’s when he can begin providing answers.

“I feel great, and I don’t see any problems down the road,” said the newest Blueshirt earlier today when being introduced. “I will be coming to training camp in top shape.”

Is it a big change from playing in hockey crazed Minnesota? No doubt. Believe it or not, a lot more people pay attention to hockey in St. Paul than here. Of course, there will still be plenty of pressure. But it’s something Gaborik welcomes as he enters the next phase of his career.

“I’ve only experienced playing in the NHL with one team, eight years in Minnesota, and I had a great time there,” he noted. “Obviously this is a big change and a big opportunity. Life brings a lot of changes, and it’s starting to hit me now that I am becoming a Ranger and it’s very exciting. The page turned (Wednesday) and I am starting a new hockey life.”

Of course, everyone will remember this remarkable five-goal, six-point virtuoso performance in a 6-3 Minny win over the Rangers a couple of seasons back.

“That night was just something,” remembered Gaborik. “(Lundqvist) is a great goaltender, but I guess when you are in the zone and everything you touch goes in, that’s what happens.

“Hopefully I can have that kind of game in a Rangers uniform.”

Here’s another video of our newest star via NHLVideo featuring the epic conclusion that left MSG’s Sam Rosen to say, “It’s Marian Gaborik Night in St. Paul.”

True enough, I’m not going to sit here and predict that it will work and Gaborik will magically stay healthy throughout his New York Ranger career. What I do know is how explosive he is. We haven’t seen a player with this kind of gamebreaking speed since Pavel Bure’s brief stint. This guy is in a different league in terms of skating and playmaking. It’s not just that he can do the one thing none of our roster could- FINISH. But he also possesses great hands more than capable of setting up teammates.

Unlike most, I’m not going to kill Sather for turning Gomez into Gaborik. Who would you rather have? Bottom line. We still have Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky here because Slats didn’t cave into Bryan Murray’s demands and trade for vanilla persona Dany Heatley. What did the Rangers lose yesterday? All it was was money on a marquee player who could fill the team’s most glaring need.

They didn’t sacrifice young players with character that we like in Dubi, Ryan Callahan and Lauri Korpikoski, who all must still get re-signed along with Higgins. Even with Gabby here along with evil goon Donald Brashear, who might become the first Ranger to get booed during Opening Night, the club is currently listed at 40.364 million according to nhlnumbers. That still includes recently retired Markus Naslund, who supposedly took the club off the hook for the three million he would’ve received in 2009-10. So, I’m not sure if that’s entirely accurate.

If the three million does come off, that can be used well by Sather on one of our key restricteds including Russian enigma Nikolai Zherdev, who they qualified at 3.5 million. Is the 24 year-old -who finished tied for the team lead in scoring with 58 points and second in goals with 23- still part of the club’s plans? Figure that to be left up to John Tortorella, I have to believe had a say in the Gaborik signing.

If this team wants to make the playoffs a fifth straight season in what promises to be a very tough East, they’re going to have to score more goals. How they even qualified this past Spring netting only 210, which tied with Tampa Bay and was nine better than the putrid Islanders, remains one of life’s unsolved mysteries. With the powerless play ranking 29th yet they somehow managed to win three of the first four mostly on Lundqvist’s back before predictably caving into Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Gaborik can certainly help in the scoring department. The big question is was Sather being 100 percent truthful about giving Dubinsky a shot as the top line center? Or is he as usual blowing smoke from that Cuban, readying to pluck someone from the bargain basement? You never can tell. A lot depends on if he can find a taker for Michal Rozsival (5 M). If he’s moved, that would clear enough room to bring someone else in and allow Dubinsky and Drury to settle into the second and third line while working in former second round pick Artem Anisimov.

I will say that I don’t see this team contending next season anyway. I really believe they’ll become a serious contender in 2-3 years when third round steal Evgeny Grachev gets acclimated along with the rest of a very promising blueline. When you see what Grachev can do, it’s hard not to get excited about our team’s future. Just imagine what he could’ve done with Alexei Cherepanov. It’s still extremely sad and my heart will always go out to his family.

Does anyone really believe this team would’ve been forced to bring in another big ticket if our former 2007 first round pick hadn’t tragically died? I have to think when they brought in Gomez, they did it believing he’d be a great complement to Chery. Having that kid would really have changed the perplexion. It is what it is. Sometimes, life’s unpredictable. I’m really glad they did a tribute to him at last week’s Draft in Montreal. That was very classy. Also, the KHL named their top rookie award after him. So, he will always be remembered.

As for how our team will look this Fall, I’m certain Sather isn’t done. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see. For now, all I know is replacing Gomez with Gaborik, Higgins and McDonagh- who’s projected to be a top pair defenseman- is a huge step in the right direction.

Want to bitch about something, do it about that thug Brashear, who shouldn’t be allowed to put the Ranger jersey on. But at least we know why Slats signed him. To protect Gaborik.

Now is not the time to panic. If at some point our senile GM does something silly, then I’ll join in. For now, relax. Enjoy the summer weather and have a cold one.

In moving Gomez, the Rangers clear major space on the salary cap since he is due to make $7.4 million next year, while Higgins only made$1.9 million and is a restricted free agent. Yet, general manager Glen Sather managed to get the talented Smithtown native back in the trade.

Higgins, 26, has skated in 282 regular season contests with Montreal, recording 84 goals and 67 assists for 151 points, along with 96 penalty minutes.  The 6-0, 205-pounder has eclipsed the 20-goal mark three times.  In 2007-08, he established career-highs in games played (82), goals (27), assists (25), points (52), power play goals (12), game-winning goals (five), and shots (241).  He led Montreal in shots, tied for second on the team in power play goals and game-winning goals, and ranked third in goals.  He was also one of only three Canadiens to skate in all 82 games during the season.  Higgins registered 11 points (six goals and five assists) in the first 13 games of the season, and went on to surpass the 20-goal plateau for the third straight year.

And the Rangers shed Gomez, whose contract was becoming an albatross. After signing back in 2007, the former New Jersey Devil was supposed to the answer for Jaromir Jagr, but never could jell with the Hall of Fame right wing. He bounced around looking for the right combination, but it never seemed to work like it did back in New Jersey.

He now becomes the latest ex-New Jersey Devil to become a Rangers’ failure.

The move also signals a busy day tomorrow for Sather as free agency opens. Now with cap space, Sather will look for a sniper, while also remolding the team in Tortorella’s image.