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Zibanejad’s legendary night, other takeaways from Caps win

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 05: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers scores his fifth goal of the game in overtime to defeat Ilya Samsonov #30 and the Washington Capitals 5-4 at Madison Square Garden on March 05, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 05: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers scores his fifth goal of the game in overtime to defeat Ilya Samsonov #30 and the Washington Capitals 5-4 at Madison Square Garden on March 05, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 05: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his hattrick goal at 12 seconds of the third period against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 05, 2020 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 05: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his hattrick goal at 12 seconds of the third period against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 05, 2020 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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…

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