NEW YORK -- Injured New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is getting closer to returning. He doesn't know exactly when he will, but once he gets the medical go-ahead, he says he will be ready to play.

Lundqvist spoke publicly Friday night for the first time since he was sidelined by a unique vascular injury in his neck as a result of being struck by a puck in a game in late January.

He has been able to work out on the ice and face shots -- as long as they are kept low -- in recent days, and his conditioning is good. But with an injury such as this, it takes more than just feeling good to face game action again.

Henrik Lundqvist was injured Jan. 31 when he was struck by a puck in the neck. Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports

"I feel physically in good shape. I am waiting for the doctors," the just-turned 33-year-old goalie said at an event for his foundation. "We have a constant contact, and we talk about it and look at different things to make sure when they give me the go-ahead I am ready to go."

Lundqvist was injured Jan. 31 when he was struck by a shot by Carolina's Brad Malone. He finished that game and then played two nights later against Florida. But further tests revealed the severity of the injury, and with the potential risk of a stroke, he was shut down for the long term.

He has missed 15 games, but behind the stellar play of backup Cam Talbot and one winning appearance by rookie Mackenzie Skapski, New York has gone 10-2-3 to challenge for first place in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference.

Lundqvist said he has avoided giving advice to Talbot, because there is no reason to mess with a good thing. Still, he looks forward to being back out there with his teammates.

"I know we're moving in the right direction, but we haven't set any date," Lundqvist said of his return. "Until then I am just going to focus on staying in shape and working on the ice. If I was unable to skate, it would have been a bigger issue because it would take me a much longer time to get game ready.

"Now I can skate, I can stay in shape and work hard. It's just the contact part I have to cut out."

Once he gets back, Lundqvist should be fresh and ready to try to lead the Rangers to the Stanley Cup finals for the second straight year.

"You can choose so many ways to approach this, and for me right now I am taking this as an opportunity to rest," Lundqvist said. "I'm super excited to come back playing. I can't wait, but until then I will focus on the things I can control.

"It's kind of weird, though, this time of the year not being able to play. I miss that, but it's part of the game. Sometimes you get hurt and you just have to deal with it the right way. That's what I am trying to do."