Rangers love intense play theyve seen at 4 Nations Face-Off

While the Rangers prepare for a late-season push to get back into the playoffs, at least some of their attention has been turned to the 4 Nations Face-Off, with Team USA and Team Canada set to play in the final on Thursday in Boston.“It’s been good,” Will Cuylle said of the tournament.“The Canada-U.S.

game [Saturday in Montreal, won by the U.S.] was really physical and very entertaining.I didn’t think it would be this intense.”Cuylle was among those curious about the first time NHL players appeared in an international competition since the 2016 World Cup.“I wasn’t sure what to expect because it hadn’t happened in a while,’’ Cuylle said.

“It’s been impressive.The best players playing together, it’s gonna be good hockey.

The atmosphere in Montreal was good and in Boston, too.”Coach Peter Laviolette called the style played in the tournament “fast,” and he expected the players to be playing as hard as they’ve been.“It’s like that all the time in those tournaments,” Laviolette said.“When I’ve been involved in Olympics and involved in World Cups, it elevates [the play].

You’re playing for your country.My recollection is it was up there: the skill, physicality [and] speed.

That’s on display, for sure, right now.”Two of the Rangers eliminated from the tournament, Mika Zibanejad (Team Sweden) and Urho Vaakanainen (Team Finland), will likely be back with the team Wednesday, though likely not on the ice, according to Laviolette.“We’ll give them a minute here,’’ Laviolette said.The coach also said he would assess his lineup, which he altered a bit in the second game of a back-to-back in Columbus on Feb.8, once everyone returns from the tournament.Igor Shesterkin has returned to skating on his own, a source told The Post’s Mollie Walker, but the goalie did not participate in practice Tuesday, the team’s first since the 4 Nations break.Laviolette said the goalie was “day to day” as the team gets ready to re...