Mika Zibanejad spent five seasons with the Ottawa Senators before he was traded to the New York Rangers, and he returns to his former haunt seeking to continue his recent streak of hot play, and overall success against the team that traded him away. Zibanejad has picked up points in four straight games, he has 10 points in his last 10 played (four goals and six assists), and is back at the Canada Tire Centre where he's quite comfortable. The Rangers' offense will require players like Zibanejad to step up in Adam Fox's absence, and he will be in a position to do so against the Senators.
Home sweet (former) home
Tonight's game will be the 11th game Zibanejad has played on the road against the Senators, and in the previous 10 he's scored seven goals and added six helpers for 13 points. He's picked up points in all but one of those games, and on March 8 he scored a goal. His most memorable game came on October 5, 2019, and Zibanejad recorded a hat trick and also picked up an assist in the Blueshirts' victory.
Zibanejad became the third Ranger to hit the 20 point plateau this season, and he's up to nine goals and 11 assists on the season. He's third overall in points, and trails Adam Fox by six points, and Artemi Panarin by eight points.
At this point last year Zibanejad had a line of 5-13-18 in 24 games, but during the month of December he struggled mightily with just four points in 14 games while posting a minus eight rating. It got to the point where he saw a reduction in time on ice, and he logged a season low 17:56 during December. If Zibanejad can avoid that lull this year he will be in good shape, and so far so good for him and the Rangers.
Senators are a good test for the Rangers
The Senators sit second in the Atlantic Division with a record 13-9-4 and 30 points in 26 games. They are 5-4-1 over their last 10 games played, and are 6-3-2 on home ice. The Rangers currently sit one point out of the second wild card spot, but they've played 28 games whereas the Pittsburgh Penguins have only played 25.
New York is coming off an impressive overtime win against a Dallas Stars team that's one of the best overall in the NHL, and if they bring that level of intensity to Ottawa, the Blueshirts will have a good chance of picking up two points.
The Rangers have been a great road team with a record of 11-4-1 to open the season, and that level of execution is what has frustrated fans about their woes at home. The hope is that the Rangers can bring whatever momentum they picked up during their last win, continue their success on the road, and then be in a position to take care of business back at home on a back-to-back over the weekend.