NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Within the Rangers’ loss to the Blues on Sunday, Mika Zibanejad completed along with his lowest ice time since turning into a Ranger in July 2016.
The 13:04 TOI he acquired proved to be the bottom he’s logged in a sport since Oct. 27, 2019 (6:31), when the Swedish middle left a sport towards the Bruins early because of an damage.
In 9 seasons with the Blueshirts, Zibanejad has averaged 19:33 of ice time per sport and had by no means seen the ice lower than he did this previous weekend.
“Honestly, I’m just focusing on today,” Zibanejad stated earlier than logging 17:17 within the Rangers’ 2-0 loss at Bridgestone Enviornment Tuesday evening. “That happened, and we have a new game today. So, that’s where I’m putting my energy and focus.”
Zibanejad has simply three five-on-five targets this season, with the final one approaching Nov. 19 in Vancouver.
His 21 factors in 30 video games is tied with Alexis Lafreniere for fourth most on the workforce, behind solely Artemi Panarin (36), Adam Fox (25) and Will Cuylle (23).
The 31-year-old stated his ice time final sport is one thing he can’t management, so he’s opting to give attention to what he can management in the mean time.
Simply taking part in hockey and making performs is all Zibanejad is harping on.
Primarily based on the file and the place the workforce has been, Laviolette stated it was a option to deploy Zibanejad because the third-line middle firstly.
“It’s probably no different than the conversation I was just talking about with [Kaapo Kakko being a healthy scratch],” Laviolette stated of Zibanejad’s diminished ice time. “We have to play higher. We’re not taking part in nicely sufficient. We’re not doing the issues we have to do with the intention to achieve success. I do suppose that it was higher the final sport in St. Louis in comparison with the sport earlier than, however nonetheless not ok. There’s acquired to be extra from our workforce basically. From the gamers talked about, from myself, from all people.
“We’re either going to accept where we’re at or we’re going to fight like hell to make a difference and move out of this. That’s the only way that we’re going to get there. There’s got to be more fight to what we’re doing.”
Zibanejad was minus-two in Tuesday’s loss with two pictures on objective, one block, one hit and one takeaway.
Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, who was acquired within the Jacob Trouba commerce with Anaheim, made his Rangers debut Tuesday evening towards the Predators after coming off injured reserve.
Skating alongside Chad Ruhwedel, Vaakanainen skated in his sixth sport of the season after skating the primary 5 with the Geese.
Jimmy Vesey skated in his 600th sport.
Artemi Panarin was sidelined with an upper-body damage for a second straight sport.
Alexis Lafreniere changed Panarin on the primary power-play unit with Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, Zibanejad and Adam Fox, whereas Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil, Zac Jones and Reilly Smith made up the second unit.
The Rangers assigned defenseman Connor Mackey again to AHL Hartford on Tuesday.
