NHL: Washington Capitals at New York Rangers
NEW YORK (77 WABC) – If the New York Rangers make the playoffs this season then Thursdays 6-5 overtime win over the Washington Capitals may be the game they look back on as a pivotal point in their season.
The Blueshirts went toe to toe with one of the NHLs best teams and they grinded out a win, thanks in large part to Mika Zibanejad and his five-goal effort. Zibanejad became just the third player in franchise history to score five goals in a game and more importantly single-handedly helped keep the Rangers playoff hopes alive.
“I know the puck followed me today I guess,” Zibanejad said. “You look at the goals its some unbelievable plays that are being made. Today I was at the right spot at the right time, but Im obviously a lot more happy that we won and we were able to do it. Its a night Ill remember for a long time.”
77 WABC Audio:
“I feel like I’m speechless right now, to be honest with you.”
Mika Zibanejad, ladies and gents. pic.twitter.com/V2xCFhDKi7
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 6, 2020
The win helped the Rangers snap a three-game skid and pull within two points of the rival New York Islanders for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers had gone 10-3-0 in February before dropping the final game of the month and losing two more times before Thursday.
“We did some good things the last month where I think its propelled us to put ourselves in this position,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “I know everybodys been harping on that three-game losing streak and its not an excuse, but those (Philadelphia) Flyers games, the schedule did us no favors. We played four games in five and a half days and then played a hell of a game against St. Louis. It was toe to toe with the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
“Thats why we werent defeated tonight. Thats why we werent feeling sorry for ourselves. There was a lot of optimism and excitement to play.”
It was Zibanejads fifth goal of the game that won the game for the Rangers. A quick pass from the Rangers end by Artemi Panaran sprung Zibanejad for a breakaway. The Rangers forward was able to move the puck to his backhand and put it past Ilya Samsonov.
It was just the latest in stretch of big moments for Zibanejad over the Rangers’ recent stretch. He has nine goals over New Yorks last five games and he has at least a goal in nine of the last 10 games.
“Hes probably one of the most underrated guys in the league,” Ryan. Strome said about Zibanejad. “It feels like the moment is never too big for him and thats a rare asset in this league. I think he thrives in it and he wants the puck on his stick, and he knows how good he is. The best part about him is hell come tomorrow and hell be humble at the rink, and he’ll put his head down and go to work. We follow when he does stuff like that.”
Zibanejads first goal of the night came on a tip-in on the power play from the front of the net off a shot by Panarin, which tied the game at one at 9:01 of the first period. His second of the night came 5:29 into the middle period off a hard slap shot from the far side of the ice to put the Rangers up 2-1.
Ilya Kovalchuk scored his first goal as a Capital at 12:01 to tie the game back up, but Tony DeAngelo put the Rangers back in front at 14:42. The lead last 16 seconds before Garnet Hathaway evened the game at three.
For the second time this season:
It's a Mika Zibanejad hatty. pic.twitter.com/jaOxYRpXNV
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 6, 2020
Zibanejad completed the hat trick 12 seconds into the third period before he and Alex Ovechkin traded goals two more times in the final period. Ovechkin knotted it up at four at 9:22, but Zibanejad scored on the power play at 18:18 to give the Rangers their fourth lead of the game.
Ovechkin worked his magic again with 43 seconds left to force overtime.
“I feel like (Ovechkin) scores all the time, but its obviously frustrating when you have a lead and they come back and tie it up,” Zibanejad said. “It was nice that it was over after the overtime. They couldnt tie it up anymore. I was happy about that.”
