Mats Zuccarello is banged up but not calling it quits

There was a thought that it might be best for Mats Zuccarello to shut it down for the rest of the season as his foot was hurting after taking many blocked shots over the past week. It kept the Rangers winger out of the team’s 5-2 loss to the Devils in Newark on Tuesday, but it did not keep him from being a full participant in practice on Wednesday.

And now it looks like Zuccarello is going to give it a go for the final two games of the season, starting with Thursday night’s match against the Islanders in Brooklyn.

“I went out early and felt good, so if they need me [Thursday], I’m ready,” Zuccarello said. “It was concerning there for a little bit because it was really red and hurt, but now it’s good. I felt good.”

Coach Alain Vigneault said he thought Zuccarello “seemed anxious to get back at it. Just the type of attitude you want from your players.” The coach put the veteran right back on a line with 18-year-old rookie center Filip Chytil and Jimmy Vesey.

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Zuccarello, 30, has played in 78 of the team’s first 79 games, and is leading in both points (52) and assists (36). He knows his name has been batted around in trade rumors, which likely will continue this summer. But all of that is still to come while he and his team try to finish on a high note.

“I know we have two games left in the season, it’d be nice to finish off in a good way,” he said. “It’s a big game for us against the Islanders. I’m sure they feel the same way. Even though it’s two teams playing for nothing, I’m sure, in my opinion, it’s going to be a good game.”

Vigneault said backup goalie Ondrej Pavelec is set to get the start against the Islanders, leaving Henrik Lundqvist for the regular-season finale in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.

Rugged winger Cody McLeod will miss Thursday’s game and could miss the rest of the season with an abdominal strain. If that’s the case, McLeod’s tenure with the Rangers could have ended as he enters unrestricted free agency this summer.

The 33-year-old was picked up off waivers from the Predators on Jan. 25, and had no goals and two assists in 25 games.