Rangers rookie Kaapo Kakko showing signs of playing with renewed confidence

VANCOUVER, B.C. — After scoring his first goal in 20 games Thursday in Calgary and adding an assist, Kaapo Kakko looks as if his confidence has been restored, coach David Quinn said.

“I thought he had his best game in a while in Calgary,’’ Quinn said. “Not only just because of the goal, but even leading up to the goal, you could see there was a certain assertiveness to his game and a pace to his game that he’s going to need to have success. I don’t know whether Finland beating the U.S. [in the World Junior Championships Thursday] had something to do with it, but he certainly was bopping around like he scored the winner that night.’’

A year ago, Kakko scored the winner against the U.S., giving the Finns a 3-2 victory in the 2019 World Junior Championship gold-medal game. That victory came at Rogers Arena, which is where the 2019 NHL Draft was held. Kakko was picked No. 2 overall by the Rangers, behind American Jack Hughes, who went to the Devils.

Filip Chytil, who had a strong game at center of the third line with Kakko and Brett Howden, also said he could see Kakko’s confidence rise in Calgary.

“I think your confidence goes up, like, even during a game, off a [good] shift,’’ Chytil said. “I think after the assist on the power play on my goal, his confidence went up, because for a couple games before, he didn’t have points.’’

Blue notes

Henrik Lundqvist served as the backup goaltender Saturday after he was excused from the morning skate because he “was under the weather,’’ Quinn said . . . D Libor Hajek, who missed his 14th game with sprained right knee, wore a red (no-contact) jersey at the morning skate . . . F Micheal Haley was the Rangers’ only healthy scratch.

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.