WASHINGTON — K’Andre Miller’s offensive contributions were invaluable during the Rangers’ playoff run last season, and the expectation is that they will be just as important this year.

In his ninth multipoint effort this season, Miller scored the Rangers’ opening goal and assisted on Kaapo Kakko’s 3-0 score at the start of the second period in the club’s 5-2 win over the Capitals on Sunday afternoon. Head coach Gerard Gallant said Miller wasn’t feeling well before the game, but no one would’ve ever known based on how the 23-year-old defenseman played.

Miller has posted three goals and six assists in the Rangers’ last 10 games, which is an encouraging indication that the young defenseman is heating up for the postseason.

“It’s huge,” Miller said of the importance of feeling good about his production heading into the playoffs. “Obviously, you get a couple points on the board and feel good going into those games. Just try to keep building on that.”

After posting two goals and five assists in 20 postseason games in 2021-22, Miller has smashed his previously established career high of 20 points with 41 this season after his performance on Sunday. He’s recorded nine goals and 32 assists in 74 games.

Miller’s goal on Sunday came on a rebound after a slick move by Vincent Trocheck at 13:17 of the first period. Driving to the net, Miller said he saw the puck sitting there and Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper was still trying to recover to the other post.

He swooped in and backhanded the puck into the back of the net.

“He’s playing really well,” Gallant said of Miller, who ranks second among the Rangers’ defensemen in points behind Adam Fox. “He played really good today. He wasn’t feeling really good before the game started, either, but he sucked it up and played real good hockey. He’s a key guy for us.”

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Artemi Panarin’s assist on Miller’s first-period goal gave the Russian wing 60 helpers on the season. It’s the third time he’s achieved the feat since he became a Ranger in 2019. He joins Brian Leetch (72 in 1990-91, 80 in 1991-92 and 70 in 1995-96) as the second player in franchise history with three such campaigns.

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Igor Shesterkin earned the starting nod against the Capitals, marking his 55th start of the season. He stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced in the win, which moved him into a tie with the Avalanche’s Alexandar Georgiev for the second-most victories (35) in the league this season.

The Russian netminder has set a new career high in appearances, surpassing the 53 games he appeared in last season.

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Ryan Lindgren was sidelined for the 17th time in the Rangers’ last 18 games with a shoulder injury.