New York. Not everything has worked out for the New York Rangers so far, but that doesn’t matter much because they’ve had Mika Zibanejad since then.
He scored twice as the Blueshirts beat Washington at home at Madison Square Garden last night.
“The new series I’m part of had to play a few games together and we’re starting to find each other now,” the shooting king of Manhattan’s blue and yellow tells Sportbladet after winning 5-3.
Although the Rangers have won many games since Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Mott and Niko Mikkola showed up in Manhattan, there has been grumbling in the media and among fans that he hasn’t stirred up the team.
In this regard, the night duel against Washington was a step forward, because at least sometimes they played well in it.
– Yeah, anyway, the start was probably our best since all the changes, says Mika Zibanejad when we meet him next.
– After our last road trip, it was a bit… I don’t know if depressive is the right word, but we took five out of six points and mostly still had questions about not hitting the level expected. So it was good that we were able to put in an effort like that tonight.
Mika himself had a great evening and scored two goals already in the first half.
– He’s obviously relieved to see those pucks in, he continues.
– I had good passes, first from Tarasenko, and then from Panarin. We got a few matches together and are starting to find each other now. I think we played well most of the game, creating a lot and putting pressure on them.
With his two complete strokes, Mika racks up a total of 34 complete strikes and overshadows William Nylander at the top of the Swedish shooting king.
– I can’t say that I attach any importance to this. It’s fun that we have a lot of talented Swedes who score a lot of goals, but who is first and second is probably more fun for you who writes, he smiles.
Besides, there are other things to think about – much bigger and more exciting. We only recently learned that Mika and his wife, Irma, will soon become parents for the first time.
– It’s a really exciting feeling. I’m looking forward to it, says the father with a broader smile.
Rasmus Sandin was also noted for his further assistance to the capitals.