The 2024-25 season wasn't very good for Mika Zibanejad, but he looked to rectify that by putting shots on net after the holidays.
That paid off in the Rangers' 2-1 win over the Bruins on Thursday night, with Zibanejad scoring nearly 10 minutes into the game to give the Blueshirts the lead.
This night marked the second time in the past three games that the Swedish center had so many shots on net.
Zibanejad had four shots in Thursday's win and five against the Lightning after the NHL's holiday break.
After Friday's practice, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette noted that Zibanejad's speed has helped increase his shooting numbers lately.
“I think that mindset of delivering the puck, whether it goes in or not, creates something,” Laviolette said. “Chances, second chances, offensive zone time, not playing defense. So getting the puck delivered can be good.”
The performance was one of Zibanejad's better in the win over Boston, where he was on the ice for 18 minutes, 46 seconds.
The Rangers center also scored his 700th career point with the first-period goal, becoming the 15th Swede in league history to reach this milestone.
Zibanejad can get another chance at Saturday's milestone in Washington if he records an assist against the Capitals, which would be his 400th career assist.
Teammate Riley Smith hopes Thursday is the start of a breakthrough for Zibanejad, who has just 22 points (seven goals and 15 assists) in 37 games this year.
“He did everything for us,” Smith said after Thursday's win. “He's definitely a very deserving player to put the puck in the net. Hopefully, this is just the beginning and they start coming his way in waves.”
Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider were given a maintenance day on Friday and did not practice before heading to Washington for a matinee against the Capitals.
Laviolette reiterated that it was a maintenance day when he spoke to reporters, indicating both teams will be ready to play in Saturday's Metropolitan Division showdown.
There was a bit of a lighthearted mood during the Rangers' practice after their win over the Bruins, including a playful brawl between Matt Lempe and Quandre Miller.
The two jokingly tugged on each other's jerseys, smiles on their faces.
Rempe is currently serving an eight-game suspension for hitting Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen in a game late last month.
Miller returned after the hiatus after missing six games with an upper-body injury.
