Some of the numbers weren't great for Mika Zibanejad in Saturday's 1-0 shootout win over Columbus at Madison Square Garden, from two penalty kicks to two missed breakaways.
And they failed to score in the third round of the penalty shootout that would have sealed the victory, before Igor Shesterkin was forced to make a final save.
But even if he wasn't connected offensively, Zibanejad was active throughout the game and impressed head coach Peter Laviolette.
“He was great,” Laviolette said. “He had a great game for us. He felt it. You could see his energy on the ice, the way he attacked the game.”
Zibanejad's success in the shootout helped sway Laviolette's decision to use him to finish games.
“He wanted to do a gunfight and get back to the scene,” Laviolette said. “We wanted him out there. His numbers. [in shootouts] It's a standout in his career. ”
Still, Zibanejad has not picked up a point in three straight games.
Just like the Rangers, the season seemed to be turning around, but the scoreless streak followed a six-game stretch in which he had two goals and four assists.
But while Zibanejad has scored at least 24 goals in each of the past seven seasons, he has only eight goals so far this year.
Sam Carrick entered Saturday with goals in three of his last four games and four points in his past two games, as the fourth-wing center continues to contribute to the Rangers' recent rise.
Laviolette credited the play of the entire fourth line for bringing much-needed productivity to the entire lineup.
“They've been playing really well lately,” he said after the team's morning skate. “I mentioned Sam, he's been playing really well lately, doing a good job defensively and physically, but also contributing offensively. He's been one of the top offensive players lately. It's a class contribution. It's great if we can get balance from the line. We need everyone to do that.”
For the Rangers to make up for a tough December and make the playoffs, they'll need more than solid play from a fourth line that also recently featured Adam Edstrom and Matt Lempe.
Still, Edstrom has contributed offensively, scoring two goals in the past three games heading into Saturday, while Rempe played just 5 minutes, 51 seconds Saturday, returning from an eight-game suspension. Since then, he has displayed typical physicality.
Igor Shesterkin will play on Saturday, so Jonathan Quick will be in net on Sunday when the Rangers visit Montreal.
Quick, who turns 39 on Tuesday, is aiming to become the first American-born goaltender to reach 400 career wins.
He hasn't started the last two games and has conceded a combined 11 goals in those two games.
Quick has been held to 399 wins since the Jan. 2 victory over Boston.
The Rangers entered Saturday having scored power-play goals in three straight games, totaling four goals, and were 0-for-6 on the power play over their past two games.
However, their special teams produced short goals in each of the past two games.
Artemi Panarin scored two goals against Utah on Thursday and enters Saturday having scored in five of his previous six games, scoring eight points (including three goals) in that span.
Before his recent increase in production, Panarin had scored just five points in his last 10 games, and the Rangers lost seven of them.
