It was only fitting that Mika Zibanezad scored the Rangers’ final win of the season, a 5-4 win over the Bruins on Saturday, with two goals including a game-winner at the top-line center.
Because even though the matchup in Boston made no sense, the Blueshirts were eliminated the week before the playoff feud, Jibanejad strengthened his rocky 2020-21 campaign and allowed his team to do the same .
After registering three points (one goal, two assists) through the first 15 matches of the short season, Zibanejad managed to find his game, with 23 goals and 24 assists in the final 41 contests, ending with 50 points. to do.
The winner of Jibanezad at 18:07 of the third round was counted as his 200th career goal.
“We all knew what was going to happen,” head coach David Quinn said of Jibnejad’s slow start. He said, “A lot had happened early in the season, and I think people see such a lost vision that it was a difficult summer to train a lot of people. He received COVID just before the season started. Anyone who has COVID know that there has been an effect. Who knows how it affected him? It affects everyone differently.
“But you are talking about an elite hockey player which means a lot to this organization. It was not a sign of what he had done in the last two years before this year. And he started After he finished with 50 points; I think that really speaks to the kind of player he is. We are lucky for him. “
Asked what his struggles and his NHL career milestones were, through the first few matches in the 50 point season, Jibanezad looked distracted and wanted to stay focused on the win.
“Right now, after this game, I’m glad we won and obviously I’m glad I got 200,” he said.
With Justin Richards in the lineup on Saturday, the Rangers made seven different players make their NHL debuts this season.
Additionally, 11 of the Rangers players were 23 or younger in Saturday’s win, nine of which were crooks.
Capo Cacco was scratched for precautionary reasons after being swept into the boards in the third period on Thursday against Bruce. Richards replaced him in the lineup, playing in the third line. Brendan Smith had a lower body injury. He was replaced by Tarmo Runanan.
After his one-game suspension in Thursday’s shutout loss due to sticking forward Anthony Mentha in the face, Pavel Buchaniewicz was back in the lineup on Saturday. He replaces Johnny Brodzinski.
Jibenjad, Ryan Strom and Alexis Lafrenier finished the season as the only Rangers to play in each game.
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