Mika Zibanejad Racks Up Three Points As Rangers Down Sabres In Overtime
The New York Rangers top center was in the driver's seat for the team's 4-3 overtime win on Saturday.
© Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports - Mika Zibanejad Racks Up Three Points As Rangers Down Sabres In OvertimeNew York City, N.Y: Mika Zibanejad is the best-scoring center in the NHL when he's on his game. To start the year, that was not the case for the New York Rangers 1C.
His play overall was expert in detail, but he wasn't producing at the 91-point pace he had last season. On Saturday night, he recorded 3 points, including the game-winning assist in overtime. He has 10 points in the team's last 5 games. From preheating to "ready to bake" in 9 days.
Following the thriller, No.93 stated, "[It was] better than yesterday...it's a big win for us especially with the break and the holidays coming up."
Vincent Trocheck did not mince words when talking about Zibanejad's play across the board.
"He's been playing great all year. We know what Mika is capable of, what he brings to our team's game every night, whether or not he's scoring. I know a lot of people judge play off of goals and points but even if he stays off the score sheet he's extremely important to his team and he contributes every night."
With Zibanejad's play rising, his linemates Chris Kreider and Blake Wheeler have benefited. Peter Laviolette stated that he is impressed by the first unit's impact, "Mika's incredible out there. In the way he drove through the neutral zone constantly attacking the game. The whole line...they were reliable defensively but they were attacking the entire night.
The New York Rangers know what they have in Mika Zibanejad. He is a unique player, one that at his best, steals the spotlight from the other Rangers stars. When he's quiet, he's still doing all the right things, controlling the center lane with mastery.
Luckily for the Rangers, he's trending toward steal-the-spotlight territory.
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