Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad ready to go on Opening Night

Mika Zibanejad tested positive for COVID-19 just before training camp and was limited to just two practices, and two morning skates before the season started. But he was in the lineup, in his usual spot on the first line, and coach David Quinn said the 27-year-old wouldn’t be restricted in any way.

“He’s a go tonight, and Mika only goes full bore, so we will see full Mika tonight,’’ Quinn said at the morning skate.

“I’ve been feeling good,’’ Zibanejad said. “Each day that’s been going by, I think it’s been better. And I felt really good Monday, felt good [Tuesday] and it just gets better every day.’’

Defense has six Americans

For the first time in team history, the team dressed a lineup in which all six defensemen were American-born. Brendan Smith, the lone Canadian defenseman on the roster, was scratched, along with forward Phillip DiGiuseppe. That meant the defense corps for opening night consisted of Jacob Trouba, Tony DeAngelo, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, rookie K’Andre Miller and newcomer Jack Johnson, all of whom are American. Last season they often dressed five American Ds, but never six.

Blue notes

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According to the Rangers, their average age is 25.5 years, which makes the team the youngest in the NHL. They start the season with two teenagers (Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere, both 19), a 20-year-old in Miller, a 21-year-old in Filip Chytil, and 22-year-olds in Fox, Lindgren and Brett Howden. Johnson (34 as of Wednesday) and Smith (31) are the only players on the roster 30 or older . . . DiGiuseppe wore a full face mask at the morning skate, indicating some kind of injury, though Quinn did not elaborate . . . Despite the fact there was no crowd, PA announcer Joe Tolleson nevertheless welcomed people to “Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous arena’’ and proceeded to introduce the lineup, by number, starting with the forwards, No. 12, Julien Gauthier was first, followed by Lafreniere, who wears No. 13.

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.