With the unexpected success the first-place Rangers have had this year, it’s easy to forget they are missing some key pieces due to injuries.

Martin Rucinsky, for one, hasn’t played since Oct. 29, but both he and Steve Rucchin could be ready to return as soon as tomorrow’s match at the Garden against the Penguins.

“I’m hoping to play [tomorrow],” Rucinsky said after he practiced yesterday. “I’m anxious to get back on the ice.”

Rucinsky has been sidelined with a sprained left knee that still has not fully healed.

“I feel a little tweak,” Rucinsky said. “I guess that will be there for some time.”

Nevertheless, he feels just about ready to play again and said that the way the Rangers have excelled without him has made it easier to take his time, hoping to ensure he returns fully healed.

“If we were losing, I probably would have rushed back,” said Rucinsky, who had 14 points in only 12 games before being sidelined. “But it’s been very frustrating. You hang around here, but you don’t really feel like [you’re] a part of the team.”

Rucchin skated yesterday, as well, and said the weeklong rest he gave his sore back had helped.

The center had been bothered ever since suffering a groin injury during the preseason.

“You wind up overcompensating for one thing and hurting something else,” Rucchin said. “But I’m really encouraged with how I felt out there. It was the first time in a long time that I didn’t feel like I was dragging my leg around.”

With the potential absence of Jed Ortmeyer, who missed practice yesterday due to a death in the family and whose status for the Pittsburgh game is uncertain, the presence of either Rucinsky or Rucchin would be especially helpful.

Still, head coach Tom Renney remained unsure whether they would be ready, saying that Rucchin may be a game-time decision and that he would need to see how Rucinsky responds in practice today before he commits to using him.

The fact that the team’s offense has hardly missed a beat while Rucinsky was out also makes it easier for Renney to be patient.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Renney said of the offense. “We always want it to be a committee, but with him out, it’s had to be.”

As for G Kevin Weekes (ankle), he skated lightly again yesterday and Renney said it was his “inclination” that he would be out tomorrow. Weekes’ absence would mean Chris Holt will likely stick around.

“There’s nothing wrong with having Chris here,” Renney said. “This won’t hurt him.”

D Tom Poti (groin) also missed practice yesterday.

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The Rangers announced yesterday that they claimed RW Colton Orr off waivers from the Bruins.

The 6-3, 226-pound Orr, 23, appeared in 20 games for Boston and logged 27 penalty minutes.

dan.martin@nypost.com