Breaking: Astonishing comeback propels Rangers top target to quiet naysayers

After the playoffs, Zibanejad’s goal-scoring woes were widely voiced. He played in 16 games, although he only managed to score three goals—two of which were in a single game. The Carolina Hurricanes were the opponents in the opening game of the round of 16. Additionally, that was his final playoff goal. Zibanejad must begin scoring more goals in crucial situations if the Rangers are to go past the halfway point of the season. Perhaps he will be able to take his self-assurance from a strong regular season offensive performance and use it to his advantage in the postseason.

Being a solid two-way centre is a strength of Zibanejad’s game. He has matured into the Rangers’ top penalty killer, and the pairing of him and Chris Kreider on the penalty kill has been outstanding in recent years. While they excel at killing penalties when the puck enters their zone, they are equally adept at scoring shorthanded goals when the chance presents itself. Since the 2019–20 season, they have scored 18 goals when down a man, solidifying their status as one of the league’s top penalty-killing pairings.

Last season, Zibanejad was outstanding defensively despite his offensive struggles. He forms a fantastic centre tandem with Vincent Trocheck, and if Zibanejad can rediscover his offensive game while maintaining his defensive prowess, they may be considered as one of the league’s top one-two punches in the middle. In six of his eight seasons with the Rangers, he has maintained a positive plus/minus. His most recent season saw him achieve this feat. Hopefully, he can continue to be their most dependable forward defender in 2024–25.

Zibanejad and Kreider Continue to Strike a Balance
Zibanejad has been heavily criticised for failing to score when playing at even strength. Kreider, his longstanding linemate, and he are both part of that group. On the power play, they score the majority of their goals. Even strength goals scored by Zibanejad last season were 12, while Kreider’s total of 19 was 39. With these two playing at full strength, the Rangers can advance further in the playoffs. Against the Panthers, they were completely unnoticed. Despite being short-handed, Zibanejad scored zero goals while Kreider scored one. They both failed to score when playing at full strength, which is a major problem that must be resolved this season.