After all the waiting and watching, Kevin Klein finally is ready to return to the Rangers lineup.
The stalwart defenseman practiced fully with the team on Monday, and declared himself ready for Game 1 of the second-round series, likely starting Thursday at the Garden against the winner of the Islanders-Capitals series.
“I feel in good shape, I’ve been skating a lot, I feel strong, which is a positive,” Klein said. “I feel I can be out there 100 percent, and with the team.”
Klein said if there had been a Game 6 necessary in the first round against the Penguins — which would have been Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh — he would have been ready.