New York Rangers: Five Players That Must Step up Against Montreal

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Mar 18, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad (93) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Rangers defeated the Wild 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Mika Zibanejad

Mika Zibanejad has had a tough first season as a New York Ranger. His regular season was filled with inconsistency following a leg injury in November. Unfortunately, those inconsistencies have followed him into the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Among the Rangers that must take their games to another level, Zibanejad may be the closest to achieving just that. He will be benefitted greatly from playing alongside veteran Rick Nash, who has been one of the team’s best forwards thus far.

Three games into his New York Rangers playoff career, Zibanejad has tallied just one point, an assist on the team’s lone goal in game three. With a few games under his belt, including the first at both team’s arenas, Zibanejad should be able to loosen the grip on his stick and score goals sooner than later.

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