New York Rangers injury update: Mika Zibanejad bloodied, Brett Berard out at World Championship

Mika Zibanejad was bloodied when the New York Rangers forward was on the receiving end of a high stick to the mouth Monday at the World Hockey Championships in Stockholm.

Playing for host Sweden against Finland, Zibanejad was high-sticked by Nikolas Matinpalo early in the second period. The play occurred when Matinpalo chased ZIbanejad behind Finland’s net. Reaching for the speeding Rangers star, Matinpalo’s stick rode up high on Zibanejad and caught him flush in the mouth.

The 32-year-old dropped to the ice and was spitting blood, but the on-ice officials shockingly did not penalize Matinpalo for what appeared to be worthy of a double-minor. Perhaps because Finland was already assessed a double-minor for high-sticking earlier in the game, the officials chose not to penalize Matinpalo?

No matter, it appeared to be a blown call.

Zibanejad was clearly surprised that nothing was called on the play. He skated to Sweden’s bench, took big swigs from a water bottle, and spit out long streams of blood. Zibanejad eventually returned to the game and logged 19:41 TOI.

Sweden took a 2-0 lead and held on for a 2-1 win, their third straight to open the World Championships. Zibanejad scored three goals in their first two games, but was held without a goal for the first time in the tournament Monday. He had one in their first game, a 5-0 victory over Slovakia, then scored a pair, including the game-winner late in the third period, in a 4-2 victory against Austria.

Zibanejad didn’t record a shot on goal against Finland, and won four of seven face-offs.

He went up against Rangers teammate Juuso Parssinen, who was also held off the score-sheet for the first time in the tournament. Parssinen scored the game-winning goal for Finland in their first two games, including one early in overtime Sunday to defeat France 4-3.

Things didn’t go as well for Parssinen on Monday. He lost a whopping 13 of 14 face-offs and didn’t register a shot on goal in over 15 minutes of ice time.

Rangers Brett Berard out for World Championships: report

It was expected that Rangers forward Brett Berard would play for the United States at the World Championships. But he missed the first three games, including a brutal 3-0 loss to Switzerland on Monday, and it appears he won’t play in the tournament.

Mollie Walker of the New York Post reported that Berard pulled out of the tournament because of “physical limitations.”

That’s not very specific. But, obviously, Berard is not healthy enough to participate in the Worlds, though Walker said the 22-year-old “is expected to still be able to train this offseason, per a source. There is also no concern about his participation in training camp.”

Berard said at break-up day that his plan was to return to the tristate area in early June to train with teammates Chris Kreider, Matt Rempe and Jonathan Quick at Prentiss Hockey Performance in Connecticut.

Berard played 35 games as a rookie with the Rangers this season, scored six goals and finished with 10 points, primarily in a bottom-six role. He scored two goals against the Islanders on April 10 and also had two assists against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 5.