Z-Power! Mika Zibanejad scores 5 to end Rangers slump (video)

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In a performance for the ages, Mika Zibanejad did something only two other Rangers have accomplished in the franchise’s long history. The Rangers top center scored 5 goals including the OT winner to end a 3 game slide in spectacular fashion.

Historic Performance

Mika Zibanejad scored 5 tonight to bring his season totals to 38 goals in just 54 games. He is only the 3rd Ranger to score 5 in a game, the first being Don Murdoch in 1976 and the last was Mark Pavelich in 1983. It was an amazing accomplishment and one we will cherish here one at a time.

Goal 1

Goal 2

Hat-Trick

Goal 4

Goal 5 OT WINNER!

Breadman the Catalyst

Lost in Zibanejad’s amazing night was Artemi Panarin’s set up prowess, especially if you rewatch the game winner. His 3 assist night now brings him up to 93 points.

Tony DeAngelo, shades of Leetch

DeAngelo also has a great game scoring a goal and 2 assists. By scoring his 50th point, he is the first Rangers defenseman to score that many since Brian Leetch in 2002. Tony now has 52 points on the season.

Updated Wild Card Update

Post-Game Notes

  • Mika Zibanejad established single-game career-highs with five goals and five points,tallied his fourth career NHL hat trick (and his second hat trick of the 2019-20 season), registered the game-winning goal in overtime, and led all skaters with eight shots on goal in 24:56 of ice time.
  • Artemi Panarin notched three assists, all of which were primary assists, tallied an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, led all skaters with six takeaways, and posted a plus-two rating while skating in a game-high 27:02 of ice time. Panarin is the ninth Ranger (and first left wing) in franchise history who has recorded at least 60 assists in a season (along with Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, Mike Rogers, Brian Leetch, Mark Messier, Sergei Zubov, Wayne Gretzky, and Jaromir Jagr). He has recorded a point in 33 of the Rangers’ 36 wins in 2019-20.
  • Tony DeAngelo recorded three points (one goal, two assists), including an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, tied a single-game career-high with two assists, and registered six shots on goal. DeAngelo recorded his 50th point of the season in tonight’s game, and he is the first Rangers defenseman who has tallied at least 50 points in a season since Brian Leetch in 2001-02.

Notes courtesy of the NYR PR Dept.

By Anthony Scultore

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at... More about Anthony Scultore

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