Chris Kreider practices, but status against Panthers is unknown

SUNRISE, Fla. — Chris Kreider certainly looked OK when he practiced Friday with the Rangers at BB&T Center, where the Rangers will face the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.

The forward missed the final two periods of Thursday night’s 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking a hit to the head near the end of the first period. Coach Alain Vigneault said after the game that Kreider had passed the concussion protocol test and was held out as a precaution. He was cleared to practice Friday, and afterward, Vigneault declared him “50-50’’ to play Saturday.

“We want to see how he reacts’’ after practicing, Vig neault said. “He seemed fine today. You never know with these things. I think everybody in today’s game is going on the safe side, and that’s what we’re doing.’’

Kreider didn’t skate with his regular linemates, Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich, but moved around, playing with several different players. At one point, he playfully bumped (softly) into defenseman John Gilmour and laughed as teammates do when they are horsing around in practice.

In the locker room afterward, Kreider joked with teammates and reporters. He said he felt fine, and when asked if he expects to play Saturday, he said, “Hopefully.’’

With Kreider not part of a set line, Vladislav Namestnikov played with Zibanejad and Jesper Fast. Buchnevich moved to the right of Jimmy Vesey and David Desharnais. Mats Zuccarello, who scored his first goal in eight games Thursday, was grouped with Ryan Spooner and Kevin Hayes.

Vigneault said Henrik Lundqvist, who was pulled from Thursday’s game after giving up four goals on 31 shots, will start against Florida.

Shattenkirk practices

Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who has missed 22 games after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, practiced with the team for the first time since late January. He had taken part in the two previous morning skates. He said he has “no idea’’ when he will be ready to return.

Shattenkirk, who has five goals and 18 assists in 46 games, said he doesn’t feel ready to return yet but is getting better every day. He said that lack of regular practice at this point in the season will make it hard to get a proper gauge on when he will be ready to return.

“Eventually, it’s just going to have to come to a point where I have to play a game and try it out and see how it feels,’’ he said.