Mika Zibanejad downplays big goal for Rangers, saw only ‘an empty net’
It was great to see New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad find the back of the net amid his early-season struggles in their 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Despite scoring a huge goal to tie the game and bringing the Madison Square Garden crowd to life in the second period, Zibanejad downplayed the significance, knowing there’s still plenty of work to be done in order to get his game where he wants it to be.
When asked what he saw on the play, his response was simple.
“An empty net,” Zibanejad said postgame. “It was a good play by [Reilly Smith], [Adam]Fox shot it, try to go to the net, try to find a rebound, and it popped out. So that was good.”
Zibanejad makes a fair point here. The goal was more of a right place, right time scenario, rather than something he had to create on his own. Fox was the one to drive the puck on net, and Zibanejad found himself on the other side with the puck on his stick, and nothing in his way.
Maybe the simple fact that he didn’t have to think, just react, did Zibanejad some good. He’s known to overthink things, especially during times when he lacks confidence.
You can tell just by the expression on his face that, though it was a relief to score his first goal in nine games, Zibanejad knows that it was more of a gift than anything.
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Rangers coach Peter Laviolette also downplayed the goal for Zibanejad, knowing that there is still a ways to go when it comes to improving his game.
“It was a big goal, and it did put some life on the bench and in the building,” Laviolette said. “I think it was really no more than that, it was just a big goal, and that’s what he’s capable of. He’s a guy that we count on to produce, and he scored a big goal.”
Nonetheless, this was a very important goal for the Rangers, who were trailing the 27th-overall Sharks 1-0 midway through the game. Not only did the goal tie the game, but it gave some energy to the crowd and the team, which went on to score another two quick goals in the period to seize control of the game.
“It was good to help the team, good to score, good to get two points,” explained an unexcited Zibanejad.
Reunited with Chris Kreider and Smith, Zibanejad line had one of its best games in a while. That trio had an xGF of 67.07 percent 5v5 against the Sharks, per Natural Stat Trick. They out-shot the Sharks 8-2 and out-chanced them 8-3. They did, however, allow two high-danger chances and created only one of their own.
Perhaps this will spark some life into Zibanejad’s game going forward. He has struggled to find consistency this season, capped off by a very poor showing on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets, when three of his turnovers directly led to goals against in a 6-3 loss.
His 12 points in 15 games doesn’t appear to be all that bad, but three goals as the No. 1 center and leader on the power play remains concerning for Zibanejad. Let’s not forget that the 31-year-old is a former 41-goal scorer and reached 39 goals and 91 points just two seasons ago. The dominant player who could change the narrative of a game on any given night seems to have vanished, and Zibanejad still struggles to find that game once again.
The Rangers need that player back, especially if Filip Chytil’s upper-body injury is serious and knocks him out of the lineup. Zibanejad will be looked upon to produce even more in such a scenario.
Zibanejad has been open and honest about his struggles as of late, as well as the mental toll that it has taken on him this season. After his performance against the Jets, which seemed like rock bottom, he called this process “the hardest thing ever.”
His goal against the Sharks should lift him up some, heading into a four-game road trip that starts Sunday at the Seattle Kraken.
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