New York. The Rangers played against their favorite opponent, Philadelphia, so of course Mika Zibanejad came off the ice and scored twice.
– Four or five years ago I didn’t like playing against them at all, but now it’s pucks against the Flyers and it’s hard to explain why, he told Sportbladet after the 3-1 win at a Black Friday party on Broad Street. .
Scoring has been slow for the Rangers’ Swedish scorer in the early months of this year’s regular season, so an away meeting with the Flyers on Friday was timely.
Nowadays, they are the team that Mika Zibanejad always scores against. He’s completed two hat-tricks in these tag team battles in recent years alone — and came close to another in a Black Friday showdown at the Wells Fargo Center.
The 30-year-old from Stockholm netted the puck after just 45 seconds and followed it up with a stunning volley midway through the second half, with veteran Blake Wheeler playing brilliantly both times – and there were plenty of chances for more.
– Yes, it’s time to take it easy a little, Mika says when we reach him next.
– Since the team won a lot, my own production didn’t worry me much, especially since our series was playing better and better in the end, but obviously it’s good to be able to help the team a few goals. Strengthens self-confidence.
What is happening against the pilots is not a coincidence, is it?
– No, it’s weird how quickly things turn around. Four or five years ago I didn’t like playing against them at all, but now it’s pucks against the Flyers and it’s hard to explain why.
He won seven out of nine matches in November
In the end, the Rangers pulled out a 3-1 win over their Eastern Pennsylvania rival. Thus, they have won seven out of nine games in November and still trail the Boston Bruins atop the Eastern Conference table.
– It’s been a lot of fun, and the team is playing really well, says Mika.
It could be even more fun Saturday afternoon, because then the Rangers and Bruins meet in an early conference final at Madison Square Garden.
– It’s definitely an important game, and it’s going to be really fun to play, says the Flyers hitman.
Erik Gustafsson answered for the assist in Saturday’s game.
Judging by their Black Friday party at home at TD Garden, the Boston Bruins in particular pushed a lot of Thanksgiving rubber turkey on themselves on Thursday.
They were uncharacteristically sluggish and sluggish, falling for only the second time this season in regular time — 5-2 against the Detroit Red Wings.
– They played fast and we didn’t. You don’t win many games under those conditions, notes coach Jim Montgomery.
Detroit’s Lucas Raymond contributed the assist.
All fairy tales end at some point — and on Friday, William Nylander’s seventeen-game hitting streak was also snapped.
The king of the floor had a golden opportunity to extend it when, in the extra-time period of Toronto’s away game against Chicago, he broke free again – but this time the ball hit first the post, then the crossbar, and finally bounced off the goal line without going inside.
Instead, only 19-year-old Kevin Korczynski was able to pick up a 4-3 decision for the Blackhawks shortly after.
However, Calle Jarnkrok scored a goal over Arvid Söderblom which proved very difficult to beat. In all, he stopped 34 shots.
The ice king was Jason Dickinson, who completed the hat-trick.
The crisis is worsening in Newark. The favorite Devils also lost at home on Friday to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the East, 2-1.
As a result, they have lost three games in a row – as well as six of their last seven – and have dropped like a stone down the table.
How long will coach Lindy Ruff survive? Maybe that’s not that much of a loss.
Alexander Holtz scored the team’s only goal against the Jackets.