Mika Zibanejad scored 5 goals in a ridiculous Rangers win

New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad gave us one of the NHL’s best showings of the year, scoring five goals in a win over the Washington Capitals.

The New York Rangers are rolling, and Mika Zibanejad can’t stop scoring.

In Thursday night’s game between the Rangers and Washington Capitals, Zibanejad had the performance of a lifetime, netting five goals in a 6-5 overtime win at Madison Square Garden.

Zibanejad, 26, has been brilliant all year, now leading the team with 38 goals. His 71 points are only second to Artemi Panarin, who came over on a massive free-agent contract by way of the Columbus Blue Jackets this offseason.

Here are some of the theatrics from the night:

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1235759745656594432

Pending other results on the evening, New York is now within two points of the New York Islanders for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. This during a year when the Blueshirts were largely expected to finish in the Metropolitan Division’s basement during a rebuilding campaign.

Zibanejad was originally a member of the Ottawa Senators after coming up through their system. However, the dysfunction in Ottawa led to the Swede being dealt to New York (somehow along with a second-round pick) prior to the 2016-17 season for center Derick Brassard and a seventh-round choice.

How bad was that deal for Ottawa? Brassard has played on five teams since the deal.

Now, Zibanejad is leading the Rangers alongside Panarin to the brink of a shocking playoff berth, with his latest exploits immediately becoming the stuff of Garden legend.