"One minute the Rangers look completely out of it. The next minute they are tying the game in the final minutes, turning back the clock with a vintage Mika Zibanejad power play goal, forcing overtime, and winning in a shootout. I desperately want to believe in this team, but with so many games like this where they don't wake up, tie the game, and force overtime, it's tough."
"Whether that was established when Mike Sullivan met with him over the summer in Sweden or not, Mika is a completely different player this year. He's much more willing to commit to the forecheck, get to the dirty areas, and do things that made him a prolific scorer in his prime. His powerplay goal to tie the game was one that gave us "old timers" a big smile."
"The difference from yesterday and three nights ago in St. Louis, with and without Artemi Panarin, is clear. Panarin is their best skater on the ice and clearly creates space by forcing the opposition's attention, something he does even when he's on a cold streak. He still needs to turn it up a notch to keep pace with the expected 90-100 points, but the Rangers generally are in a much better position to win games"
The Rangers alternate between collapsing and mounting late comebacks, sometimes forcing overtime and winning in shootouts. Top-six veterans often underperform, though Panarin, Zibanejad, and Trocheck delivered strong performances in the recent matinee. Igor Shesterkin shows uneven play, allowing stoppable goals but making crucial saves at key moments. Mika Zibanejad has embraced the system, increased forechecking, attacked dirty areas, and scored a nostalgic power-play goal, moving into a tie for sixth in franchise goals and approaching the power-play goal record. Artemi Panarin consistently creates space and remains the team's best skater, needing a bit more to reach expected scoring totals.
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