Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad is game-time decision for Saturday vs. Capitals

Speaking with reporters on Saturday morning, New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said forward Mika Zibanejad would be a game-time decision for their Saturday matinee on the road against the Washington Capitals, according to NY Post reporter Mollie Walker.

Zibanejad, 30, missed Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, reportedly due to illness. He travelled with the club to Missouri, but was a last-minute scratch.

In 39 games through the 2023-24 regular season, Zibanejad has 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points, including six goals and 20 points on the power play.

The Rangers have been one of the league’s stronger teams through the first half of the season, going 26-12-2 with 54 points, first in the Metropolitan Division. However, they’re only 4-5-1 in their last 10 and have lost three straight going into Saturday.

Forward Artemi Panarin is leading the way in points with 58 (26 goals and 32 assists), 17 points ahead of second-place Vincent Trocheck and his 41 points (13 goals and 28 assists). Zibanejad’s 39 points rank third on the club.

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin is 16-10-0 with a .901 SV% and backup netminder Jonathan Quick, a three-time Stanley Cup winner, is 9-2-2 with a .915 SV%, having one of the bigger bounce back seasons of 2023-24.

Saturday will be the first of a home-and-home with the Capitals, as the two teams fly to New York right after the game to do the same thing on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Rangers will stay at home for a Tuesday matchup against the Seattle Kraken, then head out west for a four-game road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.