Mika makes small mark
There were glimpses of the skill and of the old topline chemistry, which were all good signs for Mika Zibanejad in his return to the Rangers lineup. The top-line pivot came back for the team’s 4-1 win over the Ducks on Tuesday night at the Garden following a nine-game absence due to a delayed onset of concussion symptoms. Zibanejad slid right back into his spot between Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich, the place he left when he was forced out on Nov. 28. “I think it was a decent game for the first game back,” Zibanejad said after he had one shot on net in just 13:32 of ice time. “I think the skating was there. The positioning, the decisionmaking and the plays came along, and came throughout the game. It was good to be out there again.”
Coach Alain Vigneault joked about Zibanejad getting tossed from the faceoff circle three times — eventually going 4-for-9 on draws overall — and thought there was still quite a bit of room for improvement.
“As any player that’s been out a while, you’re trying to find your rhythm,” Vigneault said. “It was a first game, and I’m sure he’s going to be better next game.” The hope is Zibanejad can get back to being a threat on the power play, which didn’t score on two chances over three minutes total, with Zibanejad on for 2:18. “It’s just the plays and the timing, and I think that’s what you just kind of get back into slowly,” he said. “I’ll get a good practice [Wednesday] and another game on Thursday.”
➤ With Zibanejad’s return, David Desharnais was bumped down to the fourth line and played a terrific game, assisting on both of Paul Carey’s goals.
“Just Davie himself. He’s a great player,” Carey said. “He sees the ice really well. He makes everyone around him a better player. He wins draws and you just have to keep your stick on the ice when you are playing with him.”
➤ Goalie Henrik Lundqvist was terrific in making 39 saves while starting his fourth straight and 29th in the first 34 games.
“The way I take care of myself right now as I’m getting older — the way I eat, the way I sleep, the way I prepare — I try to do everything I can to stay on top of my game,” the 35year-old said.
➤ Rookie Boo Nieves had been the fourth-line center for the previous nine games, but he was a healthy scratch. Along with Carey and Desharnais, the right side of the line was Jimmy Vesey and the trio combined for five points.
“That line played well for us,” Vigneault said. “They played the way we expected them to play. They had a good northsouth game, they spent some good quality minutes in the other team’s end creating some opportunities, and they were able to capitalize on a few.”