Mika Zibanejad became the first player in New York Rangers history to record multi-goal games in season openers.
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Madison Square Garden was bouncing as Mika Zibanejad scored two goals as the New York Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 in the NHL season opener on Tuesday. Zibanejad had a great game as had nine shots on goal and just dominated the ice to make it a night to remember. Barclay Goodrow scored the third goal and completed what was a good night for the Rangers. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin also had an impressive game as he saved 26 shots and only let in one goal. He finished the game with a save percentage of .963.
Zibanejad scored his first goal and it was short handed as he kept the puck through the right circle and lifted it into the top left corner. He also gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the third with a shot from the left circle off a pass from Artemi Panarin. By doing that Zibanejad became the first player in New York Rangers history to record multi-goal games in season openers (the other one was on October 15, 2017).
As for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos scored their only goal of the game and generally had a tough night while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves. The Rangers however had more shots than Tampa Bay as they were 14-8 in the first period and 18-8 in the second period.
Rangers fans went crazy and in this article, we will showcase some of the best reactions.
First goal of the NHL season brought to you by the New York Rangers pic.twitter.com/d6NDrE3o7b
— State Street Sports (@_statestreet_) October 12, 2022
Mika Zibanejad currently on pace for 164 goals this season. You think he can keep it up!?
— Drew Way (@Drews_Way) October 12, 2022
Mika Zibanejad is only the 5th player in NHL history to score both a shorthanded goal and a powerplay goal in his team’s season opener. The others:
George Armstron (TOR): 10/10/1962
Adam Graves (NYR): 10/05/1996
Matt Cooke (PIT): 10/06/2011
Alexander Ovechkin (WSH): 10/13/2021 pic.twitter.com/MMCxEPaHjy— Stat Boy Steven 🇳🇱 🇮🇪 (@StatBoy_Steven) October 12, 2022
what a way to start the season! #lgr #NoQuitInNY pic.twitter.com/RupSHgBBTC
— danielle (@iamdanigraff26) October 12, 2022
First of the season…a shorty for Mika! @MikaZibanejad #NYR pic.twitter.com/XiGH7TTGpT
— Joe Tolleson (@joetolleson) October 12, 2022
Mika Zibanejad scores his second goal of the night, this time on the power play. It marks the fourth time in his career he has collected a SHG and PPG in the same game:
Tonight
2021/03/17 vs PHI
2019/10/05 @ OTT
2018/10/23 vs FLA— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) October 12, 2022
Mark Messier just said the New York Rangers will win the 2023 Stanley Cup. That’s it that’s the tweet.
— Katie Spins (@KatieSpins) October 11, 2022
Igor Shesterkin, we do not deserve you #NYR
— 𝙰𝚂𝙷 ☻ (@ashelai_) October 12, 2022
Yankees win their first playoff game ✅
Rangers win their home opener ✅
Giants 4-1 ✅
Jets 3-2 ✅New York sports are all the way back. Appreciate it.
— Mike Carbone (@MikeCarboneJr) October 12, 2022
A masterclass by the Rangers of New York. Impossible to start on a better not.
Also I’m a Trocheck fanboy officially. That’s my guy. That’s my dude.
— Greg Kaplan (@BlueshirtsBreak) October 12, 2022
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