Rangers set to get Adam Fox back after lengthy injury absence

WASHINGTON — The Rangers are in line for the ultimate New Year’s Eve gift.

All signs point to Adam Fox rejoining the lineup Wednesday afternoon against the Capitals, after the Blueshirts were without their No. 1 defenseman for the past 14 games due to a shoulder injury he sustained Nov. 29.

Fox took consistent reps next to the defensive partner he opened the season with, Vladislav Gavrikov, during practice in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday.

He quarterbacked the top power-play unit alongside Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière.

Head coach Mike Sullivan said he anticipates Fox to be a game-time decision, but the Rangers can’t get the 27-year-old blueliner back fast enough.

“When Foxy is in our lineup, he’s a difference maker,” Sullivan said from inside MedStar Capitals Iceplex. “He’s a very difficult guy to replace on so many levels. He’s had a great start to our season. On the power play, the way he drives offense. Our ability to get out of our end. And I don’t think he gets enough credit with how well he defends. He’s a competitive guy. He defends pretty hard.

“He’s hockey strong, even though he’s not the biggest guy in the world. He just helps us in so many ways.”

The loss of Fox was felt the most on the power play, which has gone 6-for-39 (15.38 percent) — including J.T. Miller’s in overtime — since Fox was taken out of the equation.

Sullivan made numerous personnel adjustments to both units as he searched to make up for losing Fox’s poise with the puck at the top of the zone.

It wasn’t until recently that the top group finally began to find the back of the net.

The latest power-play goal came off the stick of Gavrikov, who stepped his game up significantly after his defensive partner went down.

He more than just maintained his defensive prowess alongside Braden Schneider.

The Rangers’ 2.57 goals-against per 60 when Gavrikov is on the ice is the fourth lowest (2.57) amongst the 25 NHL defenseman who have logged at least 900 minutes of ice time this season, per Natural Stat Trick.

Gavrikov has also chipped in offensively more than he ever has throughout his seven years in the NHL.

So much so that he set a new career high in goals (seven) while recording his first-ever point on the power play in Monday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Raleigh.

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“I felt like I had kind of [a] responsibility to try to bring some more [of an] offensive game, I would say,” Gavrikov told The Post on Tuesday afternoon. “We got to be happy to have him back. He’s a huge part of our team. We’re thrilled.”

In addition to returning to game action, Fox will be finding out if he cracked Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Olympics in Milan in the coming days.

The Americans are expected to unveil their final roster early Friday morning before the Rangers take on the Panthers in the Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park.

Sitting out for this long couldn’t have helped Fox’s chances, but there is still a possibility.

Meanwhile, the Rangers’ chances at the playoffs increase with Fox on the ice.

The cascading effect his return will have on the lineup should help the team settle in what has been a season of consistent movement due to injuries.

Scott Morrow, who was given a look in Fox’s absence, could be returned to Hartford soon.

“We’re asking guys to play certain roles that they’re not accustomed to, and could be a stretch for some of them,” Sullivan said. “I think the guys are competing hard in Foxy’s absence, but, obviously, when your top defenseman isn’t in the lineup — pick any team — that has ramifications. And they’re hard guys to replace. It’s not to say that we can’t be competitive and that it provides opportunities for others to step up and play a more significant role, and that’s how careers grow also, with those types of opportunities. I just think that’s part of today’s NHL.”