Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Delivers power-play helper
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Zibanejad notched a power-play assist, two PIM and a minus-3 rating in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Capitals.
Zibanejad connected with Chris Kreider for a power-play goal early in the second period. Consistency has been an issue for Zibanejad early on -- he's been held scoreless in five of the Rangers' first nine games. He's made up for it by logging seven points (two on the power play) with 17 shots on net, a minus-3 rating and four PIM. While still on the nominal first line, the Rangers' scoring depth means Zibanejad is functioning more as an all-situations middle-six center.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Scores early in win
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Zibanejad scored a goal on five shots and blocked one shot in Tuesday's 7-2 win over Montreal.
Zibanejad finished off a rush with a one-timer that got by Sam Montembeault to give the Rangers a lead 54 seconds into the game. After going pointless in his first two appearances this season, in which New York scored 11 goals, Zibanejad has hit a stride with five points over the last four games.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Five points in five games
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Zibanejad put up two assists in a 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
He set up the winner with a beauty cross-crease pass to Chris Kreider for an easy tap-in on a delayed penalty in the second period. Zibanejad has five points, including four assists, in five games this season. He's historically been a volume shooter but has only eight shots. That will change soon, and Zibanejad's goal tally will climb.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Three-point effort in win
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Zibanejad scored a goal and added two assists, one on the power play, in Monday's 4-1 win over the Red Wings.
After getting held off the scoresheet in the Rangers' first two games, Zibanejad got rolling with an impressive performance that included a slick shot-pass to Chris Kreider in the second period that produced the game-winner on the power play. Zibanejad saw his production droop last year, as he managed just 26 goals and 72 points in 81 regular-season games -- his lowest totals over a full campaign since 2017-18 -- but given the talent around him and his spot on the Rangers' top power-play unit, the 31-year-old seems likely to get back to at least a point-a-game pace in 2024-25.
Zibanejad had two primary assists in Thursday's 3-2 loss against the Panthers in Game 5.
Zibanejad's two helpers in Thursday's loss moved him past teammate Vincent Trocheck for the team lead in assists during the postseason. Surprisingly, it was Zibanejad's first two points of the series after logging 14 points in 10 games throughout the first two rounds. The 31-year-old center did not record a shot on goal Thursday, but he had a plus-1 rating in 24:03 of ice time, the most of any Ranger. In 15 playoff contests to this point, Zibanejad has 16 points and a team-leading 13 assists with an even plus-minus rating.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Keeps streak going with helper
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Zibanejad logged an assist and two PIM in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 4.
Zibanejad fed Alexis Lafreniere for a game-tying goal in the third period. The helper extended Zibanejad's point streak to 14 games, during which he has accumulated five goals and 16 helpers. That includes three goals, 10 assists, 22 shots on net and a plus-2 rating over eight playoff contests. The 31-year-old center continues to pile up offense while seeing a top-line role.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Extends scoring streak to 13 games
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Zibanejad registered a shorthanded assist in a 3-2 overtime victory over Carolina in Game 3 on Thursday.
Zibanejad helped out Chris Kreider midway through the second period who evened the score at 1-1. The 31-year-old Zibanejad is on a 13-game point streak dating back to the regular season in which he's provided five goals and 20 points -- that run includes three goals and 12 points across seven playoff outings. Zibanejad figures to continue to play a critical role on the Rangers' first line and top power-play unit.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Assist on game-winner
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Zibanejad had the primary assist on Vincent Trocheck's game-winning goal in Tuesday's 4-3 double-overtime win over Carolina in Game 2.
Zibanejad threw a shot towards the net during the second overtime that popped out to Vincent Trocheck for the game-winner. In addition to the assist, Zibanejad recorded six shots on net, two hits and a minus-2 rating in the tilt. He already has four points (two goals) in two contests this series. The first-line center is up to 11 points in the playoffs -- just one behind superstar center Connor McDavid.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Starring role in Game 1 win
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Zibanejad scored twice, added an assist and blocked two shots in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Hurricanes in Game 1.
Zibanejad scored the Rangers' first two goals and added an assist on a Vincent Trocheck tally. All three of Zibanejad's points came in the first period, and two of them were on the power play. He's racked up four straight multi-point efforts and his point streak is at 11 games (five goals, 13 helpers) dating back to April 5. The 31-year-old center plays in all situations for the Rangers, and that's unlikely to change in this second-round series.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Dishes pair of assists
Rotowire
Zibanejad recorded two power-play assists in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Capitals in Game 4.
Zibanejad set up goals by Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin in this contest. In the first round, Zibanejad was active on offense with a goal, six assists, four power-play points and 12 shots on net over four games. He should continue to see heavy usage in all situations throughout the playoffs.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Two helpers in Game 3 win
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Zibanejad notched two assists, one on the power play, in Friday's 3-1 Game 3 win over the Capitals.
Zibanejad has back-to-back two-point performances, racking up one goal and four helpers during a three-game point streak. The 31-year-old center has helped put the Rangers on the brink of a first-round sweep of the Caps.
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Rangers' Mika Zibanejad: Two-point effort Tuesday
Rotowire
Zibanejad produced a power-play goal and a shorthanded assist Tuesday in a 4-3 win over the Capitals in Game 2.
After finding the back of the net in the first period, Zibanejad helped set up K'Andre Miller for what proved to be the game-winner late in the second. Zibanejad is riding an active eight-game point streak extending back to the end of the regular season -- through two postseason contests, he's collected a goal and three points. He'll look to keep rolling on the road Friday in Game 3.
Zibanejad notched a shorthanded assist, three shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Monday's 4-0 win over the Senators.
Zibanejad helped out on an Adam Fox tally in the second period. The assist extended Zibanejad's point streak to six games (two goals, six helpers) to close out the regular season. He had 72 points in 81 appearances during the regular season, with his .89 points per game being his lowest pace in six years. Despite the down year, the 30-year-old center remains on the Rangers' top line as well as a key contributor in all situations after posting a career-high six shorthanded points and topping 30 power-play points (31) for the second straight season.
