MONTREAL — Mika Zibanejad’s season with the Rangers has not been as much as par.
However this isn’t the Rangers.
“You’re enjoying on your nation,” Zibanejad mentioned Wednesday earlier than Workforce Sweden misplaced 4-3 in extra time to Canada to open the 4 Nations Face-Off. “It’s so much totally different, however I believe it’s numerous enjoyable, too. There’s a pleasure and there’s an honor that goes into sporting this jersey. Having the ability to play with these guys is numerous enjoyable and there’s numerous pleasure. I’ve been trying ahead to today and it’s lastly right here.”
Zibanejad, for the second day working, spent most of his session with reporters trying relaxed and content material.
At the same time as his sport has picked up lately with the Rangers, it’s a far cry from the demeanor he’s had for a lot of the yr with the Blueshirts.
Having by no means earlier than represented Sweden in best-on-best competitors, Zibanejad is immediately in a distinct setting, the place the slate is clear and the place he can simply exit and play.
Sure, there are stress and nerves — Tre Kroner is just not right here to be a punching bag for the USA or Canada, because it proved in combating again from a 3-1 deficit to earn some extent on Wednesday. However like all people else right here, that’s eclipsed for Zibanejad by the joy of lastly attending to characterize his nation on a stage like this.
Sweden coach Sam Hallam began Zibanejad on his prime line between Rickard Rakell and William Nylander, as a lot a present of religion as may very well be, and Zibanejad’s 20:01 of ice was greater than each ahead save Nylander.
“Rakell and Mika performed collectively within the Worlds a pair years in the past and have been actually profitable. Fairly good buddies outdoors the ice, too,” Hallam mentioned. “That performs in a bit. However primarily they’re three actually good gamers. Willy can skate with the puck and if he can get the puck to Mika or Rakey, we’re hopefully gonna get some targets there.”
There isn’t a weight of the Rangers’ season right here, no Commerce Memo or 3-10-0 December. For this match, Zibanejad might be freed from that, and hopefully discover the perfect model of himself earlier than returning to New York.
“It’s been very spectacular the final couple days right here with practices and even the morning skate,” Zibanejad mentioned. “Clearly enjoying with numerous the blokes by means of the nationwide workforce or under-18s or under-20s and clearly enjoying in opposition to them, however I believe you get a distinct really feel for the blokes that you just’re enjoying in opposition to daily that you know the way good they’re.
“Simply by way of seeing that for 40 minutes on the ice in apply and seeing how they catch passes, how they make performs. It’s simply all spectacular and actually, it’s numerous enjoyable.”