Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad will not play on Thursday vs. Blues

Zibanejad, 30, travelled with the club to St. Louis despite not feeling well, but was reportedly expected to play before Thursday’s game. However, his condition likely changed as they got closer to puck drop, with Walker’s tweet coming just over 10 minutes before the start of the game.

In 39 games through the 2023-24 regular season, Zibanejad has 14 goals and 25 assists in 39 games, 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 26-11-2 with 54 points, first in the Metropolitan Division. However, they’re only 5-4-1 in their last 10 and have lost two straight going into Thursday night.

Forward Artemi Panarin is leading the way in points with 57 (26 goals and 31 assists), 17 points ahead of second-place Vincent Trocheck. Zibanejad’s 39 points rank third on the club.

After Thursday’s game, the Rangers fly to D.C. for the first half of a home-and-home with the Washington Capitals on Saturday, then the two teams will fly to the Big Apple for a Sunday matinee at Madison Square Garden.