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Some of the numbers weren’t pretty for Mika Zibanejad in Saturday’s 1-0 shootout win over Columbus at Madison Square Garden, from the pair of penalties he took to the two breakaways he missed.
And then he wasn’t able to score in the third round of the shootout, which would have sealed the victory before Igor Shesterkin was forced to make a final save.
But Zibanejad was a factor throughout the game and impressed head coach Peter Laviolette, even if it didn’t result in any offense.
“He was good,” Laviolette said. “He played a heck of a game for us. He was feeling it. You could see his energy on the ice, how he was attacking the game.”
Zibanejad’s success in shootouts helped sway Laviolette’s decision to use him to try to finish the game.
“He wanted the shootout and to go back out there,’’ Laviolette said. “We wanted him out there. His numbers [in shootouts] in his career are outstanding.”
Still, Zibanejad hasn’t picked up a point in three consecutive games.
The scoreless streak follows a six-game stretch in which he had two goals and four assists, as his season seemed to be turning around, much like the Rangers.
But after scoring at least 24 goals in each of the past seven seasons, Zibanejad has just eight so far this year.
Sam Carrick entered Saturday with points in three of his past four games — and four points in his previous two games — as the fourth-wing center continues to help propel the Rangers’ recent surge.
Laviolette credited the play of the entire fourth line for giving the team some much-needed production throughout the lineup.
“They’ve played really well as of late,’’ he said after the team’s morning skate. “You mentioned Sam, he’s playing really well of late, not only doing a good job defensively and physically, he’s contributed offensively. He’s been a top contributor offensively lately. It’s great when you can get that balance from your lines. It takes everybody.”
It’s going to take more than just solid play from the fourth line, which has lately also featured Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe, for the Rangers to make up for their rough December and make the playoffs.
Still, Edstrom has provided some offense, as well, with two goals in his previous three games heading into Saturday, and Rempe his typical physicality since his return from an eight-game suspension, although he had just 5:51 of ice time Saturday.
With Igor Shesterkin playing Saturday, Jonathan Quick figures to be in net Sunday when the Rangers visit Montreal.
Quick, who turns 39 Tuesday, is looking to become the first goalie born in the US to reach 400 career wins.
He’s lost his last two starts and allowed 11 combined goals in those two games.
Quick has been stuck at 399 victories since a win over Boston on Jan. 2.
After getting power-play goals in three straight games — scoring four goals total — the Rangers entered Saturday having gone 0-for-6 on the power play in their previous two games.
But their special teams produced a shorthanded goal in each of those past two games.
Artemi Panarin entered Saturday with points in five of his previous six games, with eight points (including three goals) during that stretch, having scored a pair of goals in Utah on Thursday.
Prior to the recent uptick in production, Panarin scored just five points in his previous 10 games, and the Rangers dropped seven of those matches.
