New York Rangers v New Jersey Devils
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

After getting shut out against Philly, Mika Zibanejad made sure the New York Rangers would find the back of the net Thursday.

Dom Renna

It is safe to say the New York Rangers won the Derick Brassard/Mika Zibanejad trade.

After New York failed to score a goal in their first game after the bye week, Zibanejad led the way with a hat trick leading the Blueshirts to a 4-3 win over the rival New Jersey Devils.

Zibanejad has continued to build off a career year he established last season when he scored a career-high 27 goals. The three goals Thursday put him at 20 goals just 50 games into the season this year.

He got things going for the Rangers after they found themselves trailing 2-0 on the powerplay in the final seconds of the first period. Zibanejad would deflect a Kevin Hayes shot from the point past Keith Kinkaid for his first of the night.

It wouldn’t end there though, as Zibanejad cashed in on the powerplay yet again, but this time with a little help from Mats Zuccarello who fed him with a beautiful cross-ice pass. All Zibanejad would have to do is get the puck on net and he did, tying it up at two.

Late in the third, after New Jersey answered Chris Kreider’s 23rd goal of the season, Zibanejad did it again, but this time he put on the moves.

It was already a strong shift for the Rangers top line of Kreider, Zibanejad, and Zuccarello who combined for all four goals and eight points, but the hat trick has to be a nice little cherry on top considering New York couldn’t score a couple of days ago.

The goals, along with some big saves from Henrik Lundqvist down the stretch all added up for the Rangers fifth win in their last seven games.

They will look to continue that streak when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at home Saturday night.

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Dominick is a graduate of Canisius College. He has covered the Rangers for the last seven seasons and the Yankees for the last four.