As Mika Zibanejad’s upper-body/neck injury lingers, the Rangers remain optimistic he will be returning to the lineup soon.
The top-line center missed a seventh straight game Tuesday night, when his team beat the Penguins, 3-2 in overtime at the Garden. Zibanejad is also set to miss the two-game swing through Florida — at the Lightning on Thursday and at the Panthers on Saturday.
Coach David Quinn didn’t want to be specific about a possible return date, but he did think that Zibenjad was going to be with the team in relatively short order.
“I don’t have a date,” Quinn said, “but I don’t think it’s going to be long term.