Mika Zibanejad skates but still isn’t ready to play for Rangers
Rangers center Mika Zibanejad skates with the puck during a game against the Canucks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Mika Zibanejad took part in the morning skate but didn’t dress Friday night against the Kings at the Garden and won’t be in uniform Saturday in Boston, his eighth and ninth missed games while recovering from a concussion. The Rangers are 4-3-1 without their No. 1 center.
Coach Alain Vigneault said Zibanejad, who has 22 points in 24 games, continues to improve and will skate on his own Saturday and practice on Monday.
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Mika Zibanejad took part in the morning skate but didn’t dress Friday night against the Kings at the Garden and won’t be in uniform Saturday in Boston, his eighth and ninth missed games while recovering from a concussion. The Rangers are 4-3-1 without their No. 1 center.
Coach Alain Vigneault said Zibanejad, who has 22 points in 24 games, continues to improve and will skate on his own Saturday and practice on Monday.
Nash, Grabner swapped
Vigneault made only one change in the lineup, with wingers Rick Nash and Michael Grabner switching spots.
“Grabs has been one of our best offensive players in the last few games as far as getting chances and finishing,’’ he said before the game. “Nash has been getting some good looks. Maybe with J.T. [Miller] and Zuke [Mats Zuccarello], he’ll be able to finish on a couple of those.”
Grabner, who played left wing on Kevin Hayes’ line, assisted on Hayes’ goal in the second period. Grabner has seven points (six goals, one assist) in the last nine games.
Nash scored the winning goal unassisted in the third period.
Gaborik vs. Lundqvist
Former Ranger Marian Gaborik played his 1,000th game, 255 as a Ranger. The winger averaged almost a point per game as a Blueshirt (114-115-229) and was 6-7-13 in 25 playoff games. On Dec. 20, 2007, playing for the Minnesota Wild, he scored five goals against Henrik Lundqvist. Ten years later, he scored in the second period against Lundqvist, who then denied Gaborik twice late in the second, the latter on a juicy rebound in front with his right pad.