NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the Rangers’ loss to the Blues on Sunday, Mika Zibanejad finished with his lowest ice time since becoming a Ranger in July 2016.
The 13:04 TOI he received proved to be the lowest he’s logged in a game since Oct. 27, 2019 (6:31), when the Swedish center left a game against the Bruins early due to an injury.
In nine seasons with the Blueshirts, Zibanejad has averaged 19:33 of ice time per game and had never seen the ice less than he did this past weekend.
“Honestly, I’m just focusing on today,” Zibanejad said before logging 17:17 in the Rangers’ 2-0 loss at Bridgestone Arena Tuesday night. “That happened, and we have a new game today. So, that’s where I’m putting my energy and focus.”
Zibanejad has just three five-on-five goals this season, with the last one coming on Nov. 19 in Vancouver.
His 21 points in 30 games is tied with Alexis Lafreniere for fourth most on the team, behind only Artemi Panarin (36), Adam Fox (25) and Will Cuylle (23).
The 31-year-old said his ice time last game is something he can’t control, so he is opting to focus on what he can control at the moment.
Just playing hockey and making plays is all Zibanejad is harping on.
Based on the record and where the team has been, Laviolette said it was a choice to deploy Zibanejad as the third-line center at the beginning.
“It’s probably no different than the conversation I was just talking about with [Kaapo Kakko being a healthy scratch],” Laviolette said of Zibanejad’s diminished ice time. “We need to play better. We’re not playing well enough. We’re not doing the things we need to do in order to be successful. I do think that it was better the last game in St. Louis compared to the game before, but still not good enough. There’s got to be more from our team in general. From the players mentioned, from myself, from everybody.
“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 shots on goal, one block, one hit and one takeaway.
Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, who was acquired in the Jacob Trouba trade with Anaheim, made his Rangers debut Tuesday night against the Predators after coming off injured reserve.
Skating alongside Chad Ruhwedel, Vaakanainen skated in his sixth game of the season after skating the first five with the Ducks.
Jimmy Vesey skated in his 600th game.
Artemi Panarin was sidelined with an upper-body injury for a second straight game.
Alexis Lafreniere replaced Panarin on the first power-play unit with Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, Zibanejad and Adam Fox, while Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil, Zac Jones and Reilly Smith made up the second unit.
The Rangers assigned defenseman Connor Mackey back to AHL Hartford on Tuesday.