March is such a great month in the sports world. There’s the March Madness tournament, World Baseball Classic, and the grind towards playoff hockey. There are a handful of teams making noise this month. One of those teams is the New York Rangers. However, one aspect during their run is the Mika Zibanejad production.
#NYR Mika Zibanejad is the NHL’s first star of the week after No. 93 posted multi-point performances in all four games ⭐️
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) March 20, 2023
The March Madness Of Mika Zibanejad
Mika March Madness >>> March Madness pic.twitter.com/pnIVrtO93h
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 16, 2023
New York Rangers centre Mika Zibanejad has been one of the best players in hockey. Aside from having some of the best hockey hair in the league, he has been on a tear production-wise. The New York Rangers are heating up at the right time, and home cooking has done them justice. With all the top guns heating up at the right time, we examine how good the Mika Zibanejad production has been.
Zibanejad Is On Fire
Welcome to March Madness, but the Mika Zibanejad edition. The Rangers superstar centre is enjoying a stellar campaign for the club. Zibanejad is a point-per-game player this season. In addition, he leads the team in goals (37) and is second in points (77). Zibanejad is close to surpassing the career high he set last year. But enough about his overall year, this is about his production in March.
The March Production
THEY CALL IT MIKA MARCH FOR A REASON. pic.twitter.com/onw9HnWmsR
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 14, 2023
The team overall is enjoying a 7-3 record through the course of this month. The Mika Zibanejad production has been a large factor in that. To start the month, Zibanejad had only scored one goal and four points. But like the rest of his team, Zibanejad has turned on the heat. In his last four games, Zibanejad has five goals, four assists, and nine points. That’s tied with Artemi Panarin for the team lead throughout the month.
The best part is this production is that it is all done at 5v5. He has just one powerplay goal and assist making this production level that much more impressive. The chemistry that is building with new linemates is catching fire and has been a blast to watch.
The Underlying Metrics Of Zibanejad’s Production
He is lighting up the stats sheet, but let’s take a dive into what it had looked at as a whole. When Zibanejad is on the ice, the other team is having their way. Zibanejad has the worse Corsi For Percentage (41.15%). In addition, the opponent is out chancing the Rangers with him on the ice 153-107. However, none of that matters unless the puck is in the net. Zibanejad has been on the ice for 8 goals to the opponent’s three. This is all at 5v5. In all situations, he has been on the ice for 13 goals and six against.
The Rangers as a team have had the puck less on their stick during this month. But when they do have the puck, they have made their chances count. With Zibanejad on the ice, the xGoals For is 4.43-6.33. As mentioned above, with him on the ice they are scoring above the expected rate. One eye-opening aspect of the Mika Zibanejad production is the high-danger area. He has factored into six goals coming from the area. In addition, the entire top six unit has accounted for six or more from that area. A true testament to where they are generating their chances from and cashing in. It’s truly a thing of beauty.
Mika “March Madness’ Zibanejad Continues
The only thing better than a Mika March goal?
A MIKA MARCH GOAL ASSISTED BY BREAD AND IGOR SHESTERKIN. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/krXhZlw0Dj
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 14, 2023
HEY! HEY! HEY HEY HEY! Mika Zibanejad’s production has had the Rangers singing that goal song loud and proud. The Rangers as a whole are thriving, but it is led by their superstar centre. The month is not over as the team has a handful of games remaining, but his hot level of play is just worthy to talk about. Let the madness continue and the production to roll.
Main Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
