The Rangers may have one other consultant through the 4 Nations Face-Off event later this month, as defenseman Urho Vaakanainen was added to Crew 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 a part of Adam Fox (Crew USA), Vincent Trocheck (USA), Chris Kreider (USA), J.T. Miller (USA) and Mika Zibanejad (Crew 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.
“Definitely an excellent nod for him to be added to that event and that crew,” Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette stated earlier than the Blueshirts defeated the Golden Knights, 4-2, on the Backyard on Sunday. “I believe it reveals that he’s performed nicely since he’s been right here, and accidents occur, you get a chance to leap in. And it’s nice 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 accumulating 5 assists and averaging 15:16 of ice time coming into Sunday — as a part of that unit’s in-season refresh when basic 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 very good defender,” Laviolette stated of Vaakanainen. “He strikes the puck. He’s huge. He’s robust.”
Vaakanainen’s stint with the Rangers might be temporary. He’ll change into 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 choose may have an opportunity to skate for Finland on a world stage for the primary time since securing a gold medal — towards Crew USA and present teammate Okay’Andre Miller — within the 2019 World Juniors.
Zibanejad’s objective 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 crew historical past.
The Rangers scored a number of targets on the ability play — Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin — for the fifth time this season.
Filip Chytil scored a objective in his first sport with the Canucks because the blockbuster commerce Friday that introduced Miller to the Rangers, and he informed reporters earlier than the sport that the potential for extra ice time is “what I’m pleased about” — whereas calling the Rangers’ spiral this season a “very tough stretch” given what unfolded throughout their Presidents’ Trophy marketing campaign final 12 months.
He additionally informed reporters he was watching a “Harry Potter” film when he discovered in regards to the deal.
Adam Edstrom, who exited Saturday’s sport with a lower-body harm, was out and nonetheless being evaluated, in keeping with Laviolette.
Jimmy Vesey took his spot on the fourth line alongside Sam Carrick and Matt Rempe.