Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances For a good chunk of this fading National Hockey League season Mika Zibanejad was listed as the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/game-day/rangers-30th-anniversary-march-to-the-1994-cup-the-opening-playoff-game-started-a-lopsided-tennis-match] "Number One Center." Except that The Maven would have taken Vincent Trocheck any day -- or night for that matter -- over the Stockholm native who is liked by just about everyone except opposition goalkeepers. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1ODA0ODkxNTg1NjUyNjA3/usatsi_22986424.jpg] It was not uncommon in press boxes this semester for a simple question to be posed: "What's wrong with Mika?" Not that he had a bad cold or was allergic to Adam Pellech bumps. It's just that The Magnificent Mister M was not playing up to his salary, nor skating like a first-line center on a first place team -- specially 5-on-5. But not that long ago, the questions about the occasionally-slumping Mika came to a grinding halt. Okay, okay, lemme put it in a mildly analytical way: over the past five games, The Z-Man has suddenly awakened as an offensive force. His point streak is at five games (2G, 5A) and couldn't have come at a more opportune time, what with the playoffs just around the calendar. And, speaking of playoffs, the postseason will go a long way -- short, of course, if the Rangers are wiped out of the first round -- to establish precisely whether the Blueshirts truly are on Playoff Parkway. Strength down the center is an imperative at playoff time yet we're definitely unsure whether Zibanejad has Nathan Mackinnon center ice quality; or whether Z is stuck in the second tier. And if the latter is the case, the Rangers Cup hopes may not nearly be as good as The Maven believes they will be. Your serve, Mika, and make sure there are no foot faults, buddy!
