The first two hits came in the first period and the third in the second period, after teammate Ryan Strome extended the Rangers lead to 3-0 before the break.
It was the Swede’s eighth hat-trick in the NHL so far – and the seventh for Rangers. But Zibanejad says he was most pleased to have contributed to the victory.
– It’s always nice when it goes in and it helps the team to victory, he says to NHL.com and continues: When you get that momentum, you just seem to make the right decision about where you go and the pucks find you.
Rangers missed forward star Artemi Panarin, who according to the league’s covid rules was not allowed to play.
– He scores goals and makes things happen in the offensive zone. When a guy like him is missing, everyone else has to give a little more, says Zibanejad.
Flawless in the goal was Igor Sjestiorkin, who saved 38 shots.
Even when the teams met almost two days ago, Zibanejad became a hero, after deciding the penalty shootout that then gave the team a 4-3 victory against Viktor Hedmans Tampa.
Lucas Raymond’s Detroit was defeated by Boston 1-5 on Sunday night. Swedish Oskar Steen in Boston was noted for an assist in the match.
In Pittsburgh, where the home team won 8-5 against San Jose after scoring six goals in the first period, Marcus Pettersson played up to two of the goals – and on the other side of the ice, Erik Karlsson also put the puck to Jacob Middleton’s reduction in the third .
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