TAMPA, Fla. — The six games K’Andre Miller missed provided the 24-year-old defenseman with an opportunity to reflect. 

It was his longest time away from game action in the middle of a season in his five-year NHL career, which was a learning experience in itself.

But Miller took it as a chance to think on himself, how his season has gone and what he can do to help the Rangers retake control of their season. 

“I think, definitely, I can help contribute to this team a lot,” Miller told The Post before making his return to the lineup in the Rangers’ 6-2 loss to the Lightning Saturday night at Amalie Arena. “Defending other players, top lines and making sure they’re not getting X amount of looks on net every night. Just being hard to play against and kind of having a mindset that I’ve done it for the last five years, what’s changed in this past year?

“I think just instilling that confidence in myself and just knowing that I can come back and dominate, honestly.” 

Miller missed the entire third period of the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Sabres on Dec. 11, after he was upended by Buffalo forward Jordan Greenway less than halfway through the middle frame. 

The Rangers put Miller on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, but the Minnesota native said “there were a couple different things.” He added that he’s doing better now and feeling good. 

With the team on the road for four of the six games Miller missed, the 6-foot-5 blueliner said he looked for ways to stay positive and stay in communication with his teammates.

Maintaining a good mindset and helping team morale was a priority for Miller, who said he just tried to be a good teammate while he was out. 

“It sucked, I don’t like being out,” he said. “Obviously, I wish I was able to help contribute to the team and help those guys through the couple games I missed. I’m grateful it wasn’t anything too serious that kept me out even longer.” 

A restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of this season, Miller has certainly shared part of the responsibility for the Rangers’ defensive collapse. 

The offensive side of his game just hasn’t been there, with the 6-foot-5 210-pounder recording just six points (two goals and four assists) through 29 games.

For such a strong skater, there hasn’t been much explosiveness to the way he transitions from zone to zone.

After getting scored on twice Saturday night, Miller has been on the ice for more five-on-five goals than any other Rangers defenseman (29), while averaging the third-highest ice time among all skaters (21:21).

When he is at his best, according to head coach Peter Laviolette, Miller is defending first. 

“Personally, I think this winter break, Christmas break, whatever you want to call it, is a great reset for everybody,” said Miller, who lined up alongside Will Borgen on Saturday. “I think everybody gets to go home, see their family, get a couple days off and away from the rink. Kind of rest their mind and body. Obviously, it’s a long season to start the year. These breaks mean everything when you get them. 

“I think this could really be the turn to our season. Everybody’s rested. Everybody’s ready to go. Kind of a new mindset.”

Former Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh scored one of the Lightning’s two shorthanded goals Saturday night.

The last time McDonagh scored a shorthanded goal was the 2016-17 season, his second-to-last with the Rangers.

Zac Jones was a healthy scratch for the third time in the last four games and the ninth time this season.

Gabe Perreault, the Rangers’ 23rd-overall pick in 2023, had three points (two goals and an assist) in Team USA’s 10-4 win over Germany in Group A’s preliminary round of the World Junior Championship.

The Rangers are scheduled to practice on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale before they take on the Panthers in Sunrise on Monday.