Mika Zibanejad makes a completely incomparable playoff.
And he has stepped forward the most – when it meant the most.
His incredible numbers in crucial matches are nothing short of incredible.
Before the season, the New York Rangers were not directly tipped as favorites, but they made a successful basic series and went to the playoffs, where they have been calculated time and time again. In the first round, they faced a favorite tipped Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby, but Rangers took it to seven games – and moved on.
Dominated in Rangers
Once in the second round, a young and hungry Carolina Hurricanes waited, but the Rangers did not let themselves be defeated there either, and they are now in a sensational conference final, where Tampa Bay Lightning is the opposition. Tampa is the reigning champion and has perhaps the league’s most stable defensive line – but in the first game of the series, nothing of the sort appeared.
Rangers won 6-2 and have linked an early grip on the semifinals – and if you were to go to the Stanley Cup final it would be a sensation. Much of the success is due to goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin, who according to many is completely superior in the world right now. But another big reason is spelled Mika Zibanejad. The Swede has emerged as a superstar in the NHL, and this playoff game has really carried Rangers’ offensive on his shoulders.
The crazy numbers
In the first conference final, he scored two points – one goal and one assist – and he has been noted in 15 matches for an incomparably impressive 21 points. With that, he is third in the entire playoffs scoring, just behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But there are more figures that really stand out around Zibanejad’s playoffs, which have now received a lot of attention and spread in North America.
On the Reddit forum, a user has highlighted that the New York Rangers have played five crucial matches – ie matches where the team risks going out – during this year’s playoffs. In the five matches, Zibanejad has accounted for a slightly improbable eleven points, divided into four goals and seven assists. There are few players who have the ability to step forward when needed most – and that says a lot about Zibanejad and his importance to Rangers.
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