Regarding the Rangers, with two to go, back-to-back at the Garden against the Penguins on Friday and in Columbus on Saturday, before the 4 Nations recess:
1. It has only been three games. Only three games. But head coach Peter Laviolette’s inspired move to shift Mika Zibanejad to right wing on a line centered by J.T. Miller with Artemi Panarin on the left may not only have altered the trajectory of the Rangers’ season, but No. 93’s career as well.
Zibanejad has been dynamic on the wing, recording a goal and five assists (1-2 on the power play, 0-2 at five-on-five, 0-1 shorthanded) since the experiment began Saturday afternoon. He has looked like a new man. Or maybe it is more accurate to suggest that Zibanejad has looked like himself.
He was, for him, ebullient in his postgame media session following Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory over the Bruins in which No. 93 set up Chris Kreider for the shorthanded winner off a two-on-one and had fed Panarin for the opening goal at even- strength, enabled by Miller’s fierce forecheck.
