Pittsburgh. Last night, Mika Zibanijad took charge of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Swedish star scored twice and played as many as two in the sixth rounds between Rangers and Penguins in Pittsburgh – thus forcing what would become a classic Game of 7 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
– He told Sportbladet after the 5-3 win: He will be very sick.
This could in fact be called an ice release.
In the first five matches between New York Rangers And Pittsburgh penguins Act Mika Zibanjadwho was courted by penguins, not a single target – and had to endure a lot of criticism in the local media
At the wild PPG Paints Arena last night, when playing “Blueshirts from Broadway” for their second straight game under threat of disqualification, the 29-year-old Stockholmer exploded.
First, he single-handedly made sure to equalize the home team’s 2-0 lead from the first half – with two smokers to the shot in just over a minute early in the middle. Then, a few minutes later, he was performing a hat-trick when he rushed out of the penalty area and broke free against Louis Dominguez. Instead, he had to be content to play until the goal set by Chris Kreider before the end of the last period (after a superb pass from his own area, goalkeeper Igor Sjsjjorkin signed) – and again to the goal with which the same Kreider decided it all happened a minute and a half full-time ago. Full.
“Obviously it was nice to see some pucks come in, but the really important thing is that we win and we continue to play in the playoffs,” says Mika when we spoke to him in the environments afterward.
– I still managed to maintain a positive attitude despite not having profits before, not least with the help of my teammates. We as a family are on this team. That’s why we come back in matches like this, we never stop fighting for each other.
Drama is waiting
Rangers’ 5-3 win – completed with an empty net in the last minute – means that the eighth is decided only in a seventh and decisive live action match in New York on Monday night.
It’s the first Game 7 to be played at Madison Square Garden in seven years – and it’s guaranteed to be one of the biggest matches of Micah Zibanegad’s career.
– Yes, you… I’d rather talk about that match only when you’re done playing. But he says it will of course be very large.
Pittsburgh had to dispense with Sidney Crosby in tonight’s showdown and that was certainly noticed. The 34-year-old star was the pivotal figure in the entire match series until Jacob Tropa ousted him with a controversial tackle on Wednesday. Unfortunately, it is not clear if he can play Game 7 as well.
– But no matter who is included in the squad, I believe in this team. Tonight’s result is disappointing, but I know we can recharge and win the next game instead, says coach Mike Sullivan.
Blue and yellow hill Marcus Peterson was in charge of assisting in round six.
