The Rangers may have one other consultant in the course of the 4 Nations Face-Off match later this month, as defenseman Urho Vaakanainen was added to Workforce Finland’s roster as an harm alternative 10 days earlier than the primary sport.
Vaakanainen and Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju took the spots of the Stars’ Miro Heiskanen and the Maple Leafs’ Jani Hakanpaa — each injured — on Finland’s roster, and Vaakanainen will be part of Adam Fox (Workforce USA), Vincent Trocheck (USA), Chris Kreider (USA), J.T. Miller (USA) and Mika Zibanejad (Workforce Sweden) as members of the Blueshirts to take part within the worldwide occasion that takes the place of the NHL’s All-Star Recreation this season.
The 4 international locations will meet in a round-robin model occasion — with video games in Boston and Montreal — earlier than the highest two meet in a championship sport on Feb. 20.
“Certainly a great nod for him to be added to that tournament and that team,” Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette stated earlier than the Blueshirts defeated the Golden Knights, 4-2, on the Backyard on Sunday. “I think it shows that he’s played well since he’s been here, and injuries happen, you get an opportunity to jump in. And it’s great for him.”
After arriving within the December commerce that despatched Jacob Trouba to the Geese, Vaakanainen has settled right into a spot on the Rangers’ third defensive pairing alongside Braden Schneider.
He has completed plus-two in his first 22 video games — whereas gathering 5 assists and averaging 15:16 of ice time coming into Sunday — as a part of that unit’s in-season refresh when normal supervisor Chris Drury departed with Trouba, added Vaakanainen after which picked up Will Borgen within the Kaapo Kakko deal later that month.
“He’s a good defender,” Laviolette stated of Vaakanainen. “He moves the puck. He’s big. He’s strong.”
Vaakanainen’s stint with the Rangers might be transient. He’ll grow to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. However for now, earlier than all of that settles into place as soon as the season ends, the 26-year-old and former first-round decide may have an opportunity to skate for Finland on a world stage for the primary time since securing a gold medal — in opposition to Workforce USA and present teammate Okay’Andre Miller — within the 2019 World Juniors.
Zibanejad’s aim within the Rangers’ three-goal third interval marked his 240th with the Rangers, inserting him in a tie with Brian Leetch for the Tenth-most in franchise historical past.
It was additionally the thirty ninth three-point sport of his profession — transferring him forward of Vic Hadfield and into eighth place in group historical past.
The Rangers scored a number of objectives on the facility play — Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin — for the fifth time this season.
Filip Chytil scored a aim in his first sport with the Canucks for the reason that blockbuster commerce Friday that introduced Miller to the Rangers, and he advised reporters earlier than the sport that the potential for extra ice time is “what I’m happy about” — whereas calling the Rangers’ spiral this season a “very difficult stretch” given what unfolded throughout their Presidents’ Trophy marketing campaign final 12 months.
He additionally advised reporters he was watching a “Harry Potter” film when he came upon concerning the deal.
Adam Edstrom, who exited Saturday’s sport with a lower-body harm, was out and nonetheless being evaluated, in response to Laviolette.
Jimmy Vesey took his spot on the fourth line alongside Sam Carrick and Matt Rempe.
