After general manager Chris Drury announced a “restructuring” for the team, the New York Rangers showed on the ice that they might not need it. Mika Zibanejad became the Rangers’ all-time leader in power-play goals, and his three-goal performance tied the team record for most hat tricks in the 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. The 32-year-old Swede scored with a numerical advantage at 5:38 of the second period, accumulating 117 power-play goals and surpassing Camille Henry and Chris Kreider, who each had 116 for New York. Zibanejad’s goal in the first period at 7:26 put the Rangers ahead definitively (2-1), and he completed his scoring at 8:25 of the second, tying Bill Cook with nine hat tricks in his career with the Rangers. Artemi Panarin added two goals and an assist, and Brennan Othmann also scored for the Rangers, who snapped a five-game losing streak. The Rangers’ last victory was on January 2 against Florida, and they had lost eight of their last nine games. J.T. Miller, Alexis Lafreniere, and Vincent Trocheck each recorded two assists. Spencer Martin made 25 saves and earned his first win of the season. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan achieved his 500th win as a coach. Sullivan was a two-time Stanley Cup winner in his 10 years with the Penguins. He parted ways with Pittsburgh after missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season and was hired by New York in May, after Peter Laviolette was fired.
Before releasing the letter on Friday, sources indicated that Drury had meetings with the team’s leadership group, with the players, and a one-on-one meeting with Panarin. Sources described the conversations as “extremely candid.” The Rangers entered the weekend with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference and a goal differential of -21. They plan to be active in trying to move their players before the March 6 trade deadline.I don’t think we thought we’d be here four or five months ago.
Miller
If changes are coming, then we will try to make the most of the time we have as a group, the group we have right now.
Zibanejad
On the Flyers’ side, Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and Trevor Zegras each scored a goal and an assist, and they lost for the sixth consecutive time. Samuel Ersson made 22 saves in the loss.
