Mika Zibanejad

Rangers say Tom Wilson showed zero respect towards Buchnevich and Panarin during brawl: ‘There are lines that can’t be crossed’

The New York Rangers were officially eliminated from playoff contention after their 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday. But after the game, much of their focus was on the second-period line brawl that saw the two teams scrum after a Vitek Vanecek goal-line save.

Tom Wilson caused the most havoc, punching Pavel Buchnevich in the head, body-slamming Artemi Panarin to the ice, and taunting the Rangers with a macho man routine from the penalty box. Panarin left the game with a lower-body injury and would not return.

The Rangers had harsh words for Wilson postgame.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Dmitry Orlov saves goal deflected off TJ Oshie’s face

Here’s a weird highlight.

In the first period of Sunday’s game between the Rangers and Capitals, Mika Zibanejad nearly scored the game-opener with a deflection off the perfect face of TJ Oshie.

…And then Dmitry Orlov stepped in.

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By Peter Hassett 3 years ago

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‘Truly embarrassed’: The Flyers lost to the Rangers 9-0 after they gave up 7 goals in the second period

The New York Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 9-0 in the biggest blowout of the NHL’s 2020-21 season.

The Rangers scored 7 goals in the second period, which included 6 points (!) from Mika Zibanejad.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Nicklas Backstrom to Mika Zibanejad on his five-goal game against the Capitals: You ran us over on your own

Nicklas Backstrom was part of a Swedish language video conference on Thursday with the Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad, the Lightning’s Victor Hedman, and the Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

During the interview, the players were asked who was the best Swedish player in the NHL this season. Hedman, Backstrom, and Ekman-Larsson all chose Zibanejad, who has scored 41 goals in 57 games this year for the Rangers.

Zibanejad’s five-goal game against the Washington Capitals on March 5 was brought up several times, which garnered some teasing from Hedman to Backstrom.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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Mika Zibanejad on scoring five goals against the Capitals: ‘I’m speechless right now’

Thursday night against the Capitals, Mika Zibanejad became the fifth Swedish born player ever to score five goals in an NHL game.

Zibanejad scored once in the first period, once in the second period, twice in the third period, and the game-winner in overtime. Two of Zibanejad’s goals came on the powerplay where his one-timer is accurate and hard just like Alex Ovechkin’s.

Since the All-Star Break, Zibanejad has scored 20 goals – more than any other NHL player.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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Can’t Clinch: Sens Beat Caps 4-3 (OT)

That was a dumb period. (Photo credit: Justin Tang)

On this festive weekend, the Caps looked to clinch a playoff berth with a regulation win over the Senators. Instead, they dug themselves a huge hole early. Somehow, they came back. Then they blew it again. Oh well. Put down your matzo and wine, it’s no time for a yeast-less party.

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By Chris Gordon 9 years ago

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Festival of (Red) Lights: Sens Edge Caps 6-4

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Blame Rachel Cohen for this.

[Note: This recap is Chanukah-themed tonight. Why? Because there’s literally no one on the Internet right now.]

Last week, there was only one way to describe the play of the Washington Capitals: shameful. After winning three straight, the Capitals allowed seven unanswered goals at Verizon Center, before showing some life late against Montreal. Saturday’s game, though, was markedly different. The Capitals still lost, but they put 50 shots on goal, Washington’s highest total since 2010. On the first night of Chanukah, the Caps looked to continue that output against the lowly Ottawa Senators. They did — at first.

It started with a sublime play by yelling person-cum-Jewish pun Michael Latta, who skated into the offensive zone, got tripped, and then pole vaulted over a Sens defender. The loose puck went to Eric Fehr, who unleashed a lovely wrist shot to put the Caps on the board. Ottawa tied it up less than a minute and a half later, however, when Bobby Ryan tipped one past Braden Holtby on the man-advantage. However, Marcus Johansson whacked in a loose puck in front on the power play just 38 seconds after the Sens tally, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead. BUT WAIT! A mere 47 seconds later, Brooks Laich backhanded home a loose puck in front. Four goals in under five minutes. Whew!

The second period was all Sens. Chris Philips put them within one with a blast on the power play, before Colin Greening tied the game at three.

In the final frame Mika Zibanejad added another PP tally. Ugh. The game looked hopeless until John Carlson tied it late. Prepare to cry, though, because just over a minute later Zach Smith beat Mike Green and Nate Schmidt to win the ballgame. Ryan added an empty netter. Sad face. Vodka. Sens edge Caps 6-4

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By Chris Gordon 10 years ago

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Filip Forsberg Stars in Swedish Chocolate Milk Commercial

Photo credit: Cocio.se

On the other side of the Atlantic, the IIHF tournaments such as the World Junior Championships are a big freaking deal. Consider last year, when Caps prospect Filip Forsberg and his Team Sweden teammates defeated Russia 1-0 in overtime of the Gold Medal Game. When the team returned to Sweden, they were treated as heroes.

With attention comes fame, and with fame comes hilarious endorsement deals! Which is why Forsberg and 2012 WJC golden goal-scorer Mika Zibanejad play a prominent role in a Swedish advertising campaign for the Danish milk company, Cocio. Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm, a top 10 pick in this past year’s draft, also participates.

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By Ian Oland 11 years ago

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Russia Falls to Sweden 1-0 (OT) in Gold Medal Game; Evgeny Kuznetsov Named 2012 WJC MVP

Kuznetsov poses with the second-place silver platter. (Photo credit: Francois Laplante)

After defeating Canada 6-5 Tuesday, Team Russia returned to Calgary’s Saddledome on Thursday night to take on Sweden in the WJC’s gold medal game. Russia struggled from the get-go and only found their game in spurts during the third period.

The shot statistics tell the tale. Russia went without a shot on goal for the first 12:34 of the game, and at the end of the first period Sweden had outshot them 17 to 3.

The second period was even worse, as Russia managed to throw only one puck on net. By the end of the third period, Sweden held a 50 to 16 shot advantage. The game, however, remained scoreless.

In overtime, after outshooting Russia 8-1, Mika Zibanejad scored the golden goal on a breakaway, giving Sweden its first U-20 championship in 31 years. Caps prospect and captain of the Russian WJC team, Evgeny Kuznetsov, returned to the bench, crouched over, and weeped.

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By Ian Oland 12 years ago

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Kuznetsov, Team Russia Look to Defend WJC Title in Calgary

Team Russia shocked the world by coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the gold medal game against Canada to win the IIHF U20 World Junior Championship one year ago. Tremendous coaching, discipline, and a lot of luck made a good team great. Several players also proved that they were the real deal, including Dmitry Orlov (currently playing in Washington), Vladimir Tarasenko (Blues prospect currently ranked fifth in KHL in goals), Maxim Kitsyn (KHL’s Metallurg Novokuznetsk), Artemy Panarin (Vityaz), and — the youngest of the bunch — Evgeny Kuznetsov. Role players from last year’s team, Nikita Dvurechenski (KHL’s Vityaz), Anton Burdasov (third-line center on the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk), and Nikita Pivtsakin (KHL’s Avangard Omsk), have also graduated to become full-time KHL players.

Unfortunately, age eligibility rules have forced a drastic change to Russia, who is looking to repeat as champions for the first time since 2002 and 2003. The only returning player is Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuzya, the captain wearing #25, is sure to be a major key to success for the Russians. He’s played in the tournament before, scored, and assisted on clutch goals.

Kuznetsov’s been very successful at the professional level this year: he leads the KHL in game-winning goals (5), scored the game-winner in the Karjala Cup, and plays on the first line of the Russian league’s best team, Traktor Chelyabinsk.

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By 12 years ago

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