Recap: Zibanejad Makes History As Rangers Remain Perfect Outdoors With 5–1 Win in Florida

In their sixth ever outdoor game, the New York Rangers took on the Florida Panthers in the sunshine state for the 17th annual Winter Classic. While it wasn’t as traditional of a setting hockey fans have grown accustomed to for an outdoor game, the scene was certainly set in Miami. The Rangers entered the stadium dressed in all white beach attire with the Panthers rolling up in Ferrari’s and a similar fashion style. The pregame festivities were complete with a performance from Luis Fonsi and introductions of the players and coaches named to Team USA.

There were a few changes to the lineup for the Rangers as Brett Berard slotted back into the lineup following his recent call up. Additionally, Justin Dowling made his season debut in his first game as a Ranger as both Noah Laba and Conor Sheary were out with injuries suffered in the last game. With Igor Shesterkin in net, here's how the rest of the lineup panned out for the Blueshirts.

First Period

After a decent start to the game, the Rangers were called for the first penalty as Taylor Raddysh was sent off for hooking just under three minutes in. Shesterkin came up with a couple of big saves as he led the Rangers penalty killers in fighting off the advantage to keep things scoreless. One solid shorthanded scoring chance came on the kill as Vladislav Gavrikov’s pass was just ahead of Vincent Trocheck who would have had a clear break to the net on the odd man rush. 

The early penalty definitely took some wind out of the Rangers’ sails as they were held without a shot on goal for over nine minutes after collecting a pair early on. Just over the midway point of the period, the Rangers headed back to the penalty kill as Trocheck sent the puck over the glass, earning him a delay of game infraction. There’d be no harm associated with this foul either as the Rangers killed off a second Florida power play. 

With five and a half to go, the Rangers got their first chance with the man advantage as Jack Studnicka also delayed the game by sending the puck over the glass. After a rocky start, the top power play unit would convert in transition as Artemi Panarin dished it ahead to Alexis Lafrenière who found Mika Zibanejad breaking to the net, making it 1-0 Rangers.

Zibanejad is now tied for first with Chirs Kreider and Camille Henry for most power play goals in franchise history with 116. 

Just 64 seconds later, the Rangers extended their lead to two as a shot from Panarin at the point went through traffic to find the back of the net. Upon review, it looked as though it went off the rear of Carter Verhaege before going in to make it 2-0 Rangers. Although the goal was initially credited to Zibanejad, it was later given to Panarin. 

With just over a minute to go in the period, the Rangers went back to the power play as Aaron Ekblad was called for illegal contact to the head. While the Rangers wouldn’t convert with the time they had left in the period, they put together an impressive second half of the period to establish a 2-0 lead through the opening twenty. Shots on goal after the first were 10-6 in Florida’s favor but the Rangers had the edge in high danger chances 5-1. 

Second Period

Just as the teams returned to even strength, Trocheck lost an edge breaking through the neutral zone but was able to move the puck ahead to Lafrenière. Lafrenière dished it over to a wide open Zibanejad who was breaking to the opposite side of the net as he fired the shot home for his second of the night, increasing the Rangers lead to 3-0. The only one having a more impressive night than Zibanejad was Alexis Lafrenière who had three primary assists on the night. 

Soon after, the Rangers were back to the penalty kill as Gavrikov was called for hooking Evan Rodrigues who was breaking towards the front of the net. For the third time this evening, the Rangers found success and kept the Panthers power play units at bay.

Right at the midway point of the outing, the Rangers almost made it a 4-0 game as an odd bounce resulted in Trocheck batting the puck out of mid air, sneaking the puck through Sergei Bobrovsky. The goal was immediately waved off as Trocheck's stick was very clearly well above the cross bar.

Worth noting that the Panthers were playing a defenseman short as Seth Jones took a puck up high early in the first. It was announced in the middle period that he would not return to the game.

Aside from another almost Trocheck goal and Lafrenière seemingly getting the wind knocked out of him, it was a pretty quiet finish to the period as the score remained 3-0 through forty minutes of play. Shots at the end of two were now 25-12 in Florida's favor but the Rangers were certainly taking advantage of the chances they were getting.

Third Period

Just a minute and a half into the third, the Rangers were back to the penalty kill as Jonny Brodzinski was sent off for tripping. The Panthers would finally find a way to covert on the power play as Ekblad did a good job of keeping the zone and Sam Reinhart fired home a loose puck in the slot to put his team on the board, 3-1.

The penalties continued throughout the third as the Rangers took their fifth of the night approaching the midway mark of the third. This time around, it was Matthew Robertson taking the third delay of game penalty of the night. A minute and a half after the Rangers killed it off, Matt Rempe drew a hooking penalty to get their third power play of the night. Panarin would pick up his second of the night on another shot from far out that successful went through a screen, extending the lead to 4-1.

With three and a half to go, Carson Soucy was sent off for interference which gave Florida a huge opportunity to pull the goalie and try to claw their way back into things. For a brief moment, it appeared as though they would come within one as Sam Reinhart jammed in a loose puck but upon review, it was deemed to be a kicking motion and therefore ruled no goal.

Mika Zibanejad would seal the deal with an empty net goal, making history as the first player to ever score a hat trick in a Winter Classic game.

Despite being outshot 37-20, the Rangers pulled off a major bounce back win in an exciting Winter Classic and take care of business against the Florida Panthers. They'll have the rest of the weekend off as they finally head back home to host the Utah Mammoth Monday Night.