It also whetted his appetite for more best-on-best hockey. Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Ristolainen and Jani Hakanpää all missed the 4 Nations to injury, so competition for the Finnish Olympic roster will be more fierce. Vaakanainen acquitted himself well enough to at least be on the bubble, though.

He enters the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off playing his best hockey of the year. If the Rangers are to climb into playoff position, it’s a needed development.

Zibanejad, for the second day running, spent most of his session with reporters looking relaxed and content. Even as his game has picked up recently with the Rangers, it’s a far cry from the demeanor he’s had for most of the year with the Blueshirts.

Zibanejad (illness) is expected to play in Saturday's matchup versus Buffalo, according to Andrew Crane of the New York Post.

No matter how well they play in the next six games before the March 7 Trade Deadline, the New York Rangers needed only one game to prove why they should be sellers and nothing else.

Read the recent NHL news and rumors about Mika Zibanejad for fantasy hockey. New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (illness) will play on Saturday

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider voiced a sincere message about going head-to-head with teammate Mika Zibanejad during Team USA-Sweden matchup in the NHL's Four Nations Face-Off.

Mika Zibanejad participated in his first practice with the New York Rangers on Friday afternoon since coming back from the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson had two goals and an assist each as the host Buffalo Sabres crushed the New York Rangers 8-2 on Saturday.

FINAL | Sabres 8 - Rangers 2 Rasmus Dahlin speaks to the media Ryan McLeod speaks to the media Jordan Greenway speaks to the media Lindy Ruff speaks to the media The Sabres host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, which is **Black History Celebration** at KeyBank Center. Tickets are available here.