Zibanejad’s legendary night, other takeaways from Caps win
On what was a special night at Madison Square Garden, Mika Zibanejad‘s heroics led the New York Rangers to a huge win over the Washington Capitals.
Needing to break a three-game losing streak in order to breathe new life into their postseason hopes, the New York Rangers were inspired by a legendary night from Zibanejad.
The forward became only the third Blueshirt in franchise history to record five goals in a single-game, including scoring the game-winner in overtime for the second time in over a week.
It was a momentous night for Zibanejad and the Rangers, who moved to within two points of the New York Islanders in the second wild-card spot.
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The Capitals tried their best to spoil the party, however, as Carl Hagelin once again came back to haunt his old team after wristing a shot past Alexandar Georgiev.
However, the Mika Zibanejad show soon started as the forward got the faintest of redirections on Artemi Panarin‘s shot from the point on the power play.
Zibanejad then blasted a one-timer from the left circle early in the second period after keeping the play alive, highlighting all the intangibles that has the center on the cusp of morphing into a true franchise player.
Washington, despite being mired in a slump, are still an elite team and they fought back thanks to Ilya Kovalchuk who cranked a one-timer past Georgiev.
It was a wild second period that quickly morphed into a track-meet, and Tony DeAngelo made it a one-goal game again after joining the rush to bury a cross-ice feed from Panarin.
But it didn’t take long for the Caps to respond again, though, with Garnet Hathaway redirecting a Michal Kempny shot past Georgiev just 16 seconds later.
Those inside MSG were being treated to a mouthwatering game of hockey and they also began to witness some history in the final period.
Zibanejad completed his hat-trick to nudge the Rangers ahead yet again, tapping home a dish from Pavel Buchnevich just 12 seconds into the third period.
There was no quitting with this Capitals team, however, and Alex Ovechkin came to play after beating Georgiev with a scorching wrister to make it a tied game once again.
Zibanejad was having himself a night, though, and he continued to be a pain in the side of the Capitals by converting his second power play goal of the night.
The drama wasn’t done there.
Ovechkin recorded his 47th goal of the year to make it a tied game in the final minute of regulation, setting a thrilling contest up for a grandstand finish.
And the game got the end it so deserved after Zibanejad capped off his historic night by latching onto a pinpoint feed from Panarin before beating Ilya Samsonov on the backhand for his fifth goal of the night.
It was a stunning night for Mika Zibanejad and it was also a huge and significant win for the New York Rangers, and we had some takeaways from the game…
1. Greatness Personified
Every legend has a starting point.
And we may well have witnessed the beginning of Mika Zibanejad’s legend on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals.
While on an upwards trajectory for a while, 109 goals and 120 assists for 229 points in 264 games for the Rangers, Zibanejad has really elevated his game to a whole new level this year.
He has become the face of this franchise, leading to many fans screaming for the front office to make the former Ottawa Senator the next captain of this storied organization.
They have a point.
And we saw just why Zibanejad could become a true star in the National Hockey League after he absolutely obliterated the Capitals last night.
Scoring a grand total of five goals in a single game, the 26-year-old achieved something that only two Blueshirts had previously done.
Mark Pavelich on Feb. 23, 1983 and Don Murdoch on Oct. 12, 1976 were the other players to have recorded five goals in one game for the Rangers, by the way.
It was the manner in which Zibanejad scored those goals that really impressed. Two on the power play, two at even-strength and the game-winner in overtime.
It was the second overtime winner that the forward had scored in just over a week, the other coming against the New York Islanders, thus highlighting Zibanejad’s penchant for delivering in the biggest moments.
This really was a game for the ages for a player who is the heartbeat of this team, both in the present and for the long-term future.
And last night’s heroics was a culmination of what has been an incredible run by Zibanejad, who has piled up 47 points (27 goals, 20 assists) in his last 33 games, including 14 goals in his past 10 outings.
As a result, the Rangers are now within striking distance of the second wild-card and their postseason hopes have been kept alive in large part thanks to Zibanejad.
In seizing control of last night’s contest, Mika Zibanejad carved out his own legendary moment in an area that has witnessed many.
And it could well be that we refer back to the forward’s five-goal salvo against the Washington Capitals in years to come when we discuss his Hall of Fame candidacy.
2. Double Hart
While Mika Zibanejad will steal all the headlines from Thursday’s electric contest at Madison Square Garden, and rightly so, another of the New York Rangers’ big stars also had a huge night.
Artemi Panarin, who will go down as the best bit of business of the off-season, recorded a three-point night including two primary helpers on two of Zibanejad’s five goals.
And Panarin also provided the sublime dish that split the Washington defense and led to Zibanejad lighting the lamp for the game-winner in overtime.
It was a pass that was perfectly timed, perfectly weighted and it was executed with absolute style by a superior talent who just makes playing hockey look so effortless.
In other words, this was another flash of brilliance from Panarin who has dazzled for the Blueshirts all year.
He excels with and without the puck and it has been quite some time since the Rangers had a real elite game-changer at their disposal.
Panarin also became the first Ranger to amass 60 assists since Jaromir Jagr achieved the feat in 2006-07, while the Russian stud also became the first left winger in franchise history to reach the 60-point plateau.
And this could also be the first year that the New York Rangers end up with two players in serious consideration for the Hart Trophy.
Awarded to the player most valuable to his team, both Zibanejad and Panarin would be deserving of the honor should they somehow drag the Rangers into the postseason.
After all, Panarin is now on the cusp of breaking triple digits this year with 93 points (32 goals, 61 assists) in 66 games, while Zibanejad is fifth in the NHL in goals with 38.
Both players have been instrumental to the Rangers this year and both Panarin and Zibanejad are the heartbeat of this team.
So, should this crazy thrill-ride of a season end in a return to the playoffs, it wouldn’t be surprising if both Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin find themselves in the thick of the race for the Hart Trophy.
They deserve every accolade coming their way.
3. This Team
Man, I love this team.
No matter what happens this year, I absolutely love this damn team.
While this season was considered the true final year of the rebuild, the Rangers have far exceeded expectations to put themselves on the cusp of an early return to the postseason.
But, whether it happens or not, you can’t play down just how far this young group have come under the careful tutelage of Head Coach David Quinn.
After months of inconsistency, the Blueshirts have finally discovered the winning ingredient that is knowing how to gut a game out.
They now play with an admirable level of maturity and, while mistakes do still rear their ugly head, this team also boasts character and heart in abundance.
Nothing seems to faze them anymore and this was on full display on Thursday night against a Capitals team that, while having been mired in a slump as of late, are still an elite team.
Still reeling from the news that Chris Kreider will be out for 4-6 weeks with a fractured foot, the Rangers dropped three straight to seriously damage their postseason hopes.
However, the Blueshirts drained that out of their system to stun the Capitals, overcoming a bucketload of adversity in the process.
After falling behind to a goal from Carl Hagelin, the Rangers took the lead on four separate occasions, only to be pegged back by the Capitals each time.
But that didn’t deter this group who kept on trading blows with the Caps, with Mika Zibanejad eventually landing the knockout punch 33 seconds into overtime.
Next. Mika Zibanejad's game for the ages. dark
It was a huge and outstanding win that pushed the Rangers a step closer to the postseason but, whether they make it or not, we should all be incredibly excited about the future of this storied franchise.