3. Zibanejad’s hot streak
Along with Artemi Panarin, the New York Rangers have a real foundational piece in Mika Zibanejad going forward.
Zibanejad has morphed into a cornerstone player for this franchise and he will be central to this team’s hopes of morphing into a Stanley Cup contender.
So good has the forward been since his trade from the Ottawa Senators on July, 2016, that many Blueshirts feel that Zibanejad should be the next Captain of this storied franchise.
But that talk can be saved for a later date because, for now, the Rangers are hellbent on trying to pull off the unthinkable by clawing their way into the postseason.
And Zibanejad is doing more than most to try and make that happen after going on an absolute tear.
After being named the NHL’s Second Star for February, the center recorded his 33rd goal of the year after sending a wicked one-timer past Jordan Binnington on the power play.
Zibanejad has now tallied a point in 11 of the last 12 games (11 goals, eight assists) and he has also recorded a goal in eight of the last nine games.
In other words, Zibanejad is red hot right now and he will need to continue to throw this team on his back if they are to stay in the hunt for the postseason right up until the bitter end.
Plus, in scoring against the Blues, Zibanejad and Panarin are now the first pair of Blueshirts to tally at least 32 goals in the same season since Mark Messier Adam Graves did it in 1996-97.
Every elite team needs a franchise center and the New York Rangers have that in Mika Zibanejad, who continues to elevate his game to the next level.