Forward Mika Zibanejad had a hat trick in a New York Rangers 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabers on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
It was the Swede’s third hat-trick in 2020-21 and the very first time a representative of the Blueshirts has hit the target three times against the Sabers in the famous Big Apple amphitheater.
On the first success of Zibanejad, Alexis Lafrenière collected his eighth assist of the season.
Kaapo Kakko also made his own, he who moved the ropes twice. The second overall pick in the 2019 draft earned his fourth career brace and his second against the Buffalo roster.
Full-back Adam Fox also had his say in the win. The second-year defenseman amassed three assists, bringing his total to 41 assists in 2020-21. Kevin Rooney completed the winner’s score in an empty net.
The replica of the Sabers came from the sticks of Jeff Skinner, Victor Olofsson and Sam Reinhart.
A 10th loss in a row for the Devils
At Wells Fargo Center, Claude Giroux hit the target twice in the bottom of the third, allowing the Philadelphia Flyers to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in a shootout.
By thus escaping a lead of two goals at the end of the game, the “Devils” suffered a 10th consecutive loss.
The Flyers captain landed twice in the space of 22 seconds. On his second success, he notched his 850th career point and took the third rung of the best scorers in the history of the formation of Pennsylvania.
Giroux also beat goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in a shootout, as did his teammates Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes. In front of the winners’ cage, Brian Elliot stopped four of the six shooters who appeared in front of him in a shootout.
In regulation time, the 36-year-old veteran gave in on throws from Michael McLeod, Miles Woods and Pavel Zacha.
– .
