Rangers Mika Zibanejad eyes continuation of 4 Nations Face-Off energy

Join Post Sports+ for exciting member-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.At the time of the break, Mika Zibanejad had just started to turn around his season.His strong play continued with Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off — in which he centered their top line and scored a goal in two games before missing his country’s final match due to an illness.With the Rangers embarking on a 27-game quest to climb into the playoff standings when their season resumes Saturday against the Sabres, Zibanejad expressed a desire to build on his promising stretch from before the NHL’s pause and his cameos with Sweden — and he will remain at the crux of the Blueshirts saving their season.

In his final 19 games before the break, Zibanejad collected 16 points and benefitted from time on the wing alongside J.T.Miller and Artemi Panarin.“Obviously, got some energy coming from [4 Nations], and I think the way I’ve been playing before the tournament and then the way I played in the tournament — the two games I’ve played — was good,” Zibanejad said after the Blueshirts practiced Friday in Tarrytown.The experience representing Sweden — his first time on the best-on-best international stage — doesn’t compare “to anything,” he said.

The 4 Nations tournament energized Zibanejad and added to his excitement about potentially skating for Sweden in the Winter Olympics next year.He even added a goal during their second game, stepping into a loose puck in the slot after a Finland turnover.The last six weeks have been dotted with strides for Zibanejad, but the first three months of the 31-year-old’s campaign were filled with struggles.

Zibanejad opened 2025 with a six-game point streak, though, and he added two goals and eight points across the Rangers’ last five games before the break.He spent time both on the wing and at center, and the Panarin-Miller-Zibanejad trio will serve as an option for h...