On Saturday afternoon, the New York Rangers visited the Philadephia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Led by Mika Zibanejad’s hat trick, the Rangers defeated the Flyers 6-3 to snap a five-game losing streak. It was their first win since besting the Florida Panthers 5-1 in the Winter Classic on Jan. 2.

Ironically, Zibanejad posted his first hat trick of the season in that victory. Since putting up three goals and two assists for a five-point effort against the Panthers, Zibanejad has been on a roll. Despite the team’s struggles without Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, the 32-year-old center has continued to produce for the Rangers. He’s scored nine goals over the last seven games, highlighted by two hat tricks. Since Dec. 31, Zibanejad has an eight-game point streak totaling 17 points (9-8-17) over that span.

Now up to a team-leading 21 goals with 25 assists, his 46 points trail Artemi Panarin by eight for the team lead in scoring. Speaking of Panarin, he matched Zibanejad with three points, including two goals yesterday. The Bread Man responded well to learning that the Rangers don’t plan to sign him to an extension. In the second period, he made a perfect pass across to set up Zibanejad for the record-breaking power-play goal that allowed him to break a tie with Camille Henry and Chris Kreider for the most power-play goals scored in franchise history with number 117.

Related: Zibanejad Becomes Rangers’ Franchise Leader In Power-Play Goals

After Travis Konecny opened the scoring for the Flyers, the Rangers responded by getting the next three goals over an 80-second span. Panarin replied back to tie the game just 43 seconds later for his 17th. Following a strong drive to the net from Alexis Lafreniere, the loose puck came right to Vincent Trocheck, who found Panarin open in front for an easy finish.

On the next shift, Zibanejad netted his first thanks to some nifty teamwork from Braden Schneider and J.T. Miller. After Schneider pinched to keep the puck in for Miller, his back pass for a Zibanejad shot beat Flyers goalie Aleksei Kolosov to make it 2-1.

Othmann Scores First NHL Goal

The Rangers continued to take it to the Flyers, who entered the game winless in five (0-4-1). Brennan Othmann scored his first NHL goal to make it three goals on three shots against Kolosov, who was chased from the net.

Following a Christian Dvorak wide shot that caromed right to Will Cuylle, he turned it into an odd man rush with Othmann. Able to easily gain the Flyers zone, Cuylle passed across for Othmann, who made no mistake by going top shelf for his first goal in 34 career games. The 2021 first round pick celebrated by emphatically pumping his fist while congratulated by teammates. Cuylle made sure to grab the puck for Othmann.

Following the win, Othmann singled out Zibanejad for giving him some good advice. He told him that it would come following some close calls that left the 23-year-old forward frustrated. Since being put on the third line with Noah Laba and Cuylle, he’s looked more comfortable. Othmann has provided the energy boost Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan wants to see. He’s been more noticeable on the forecheck taking the body.

Hopefully, he can keep it going when the Rangers visit the Anaheim Ducks for the first of three games in California on Monday night.

Zibanejad Ties Cook’s Franchise Record For The Most Hat Tricks

In the second period, Zibanejad made Rangers’ history with two more goals. The first came when he scored his 117th power-play goal to become the franchise leader by passing former teammate Chris Kreider and Camille Henry. The second came when he buried a Miller feed to record his ninth hat trick as a Ranger, tying him with Bill Cook for the most hat tricks in franchise history.

Following a Flyers turnover in the neutral zone, Scott Morrow sent Miller in on a two-on-one with Zibanejad. Miller easily dished across for an easy Zibanejad put away for the record-tying hat trick. Over his career, he has 10 hat tricks with three coming against the Flyers. That included two three-goal games eight days apart on Mar. 17 and Mar. 25, 2021 in Rangers’ blowouts in which they outscored the Flyers by a combined 17-3.

By by converting on the power play earlier in the period, it marked the 11th time in his career that Zibanejad has scored at least 20 goals or more in a season. With the exception of his first season as a Ranger in 2016-17, he’s posted nine straight years of 20-plus goals. By getting his 21st, he already surpassed his 2024-25 total in only 48 games. The next target would be reaching the 30-goal mark, which he’s done three times before. We’ll see if he can make it four.

Panarin Reaches 800 Games

Saturday was the 800th career game for Panarin. He did it in style by scoring twice and setting up another to record three points in the win.

With the Rangers comfortably ahead 5-1, Panarin padded the lead to five when he got his second of the game on a Lafreniere feed. Taking a pass from Lafreniere in the slot, he beat Samuel Ersson with a wrist shot for his 18th to make it 6-1.

When asked by reporters about not being part of the team’s plans moving forward, he said, “I’m still confused, but the GM decided to go in a different direction. I’m okay with that. I’m a Ranger right now, so I’ll play every game 100 percent.”

It isn’t easy for a player to keep playing knowing that their days are numbered. Panarin has been a superb Ranger, who’s produced at an elite level. Since joining the Rangers in 2019-20, Panarin ranks fifth in points among all NHL players. According to Stat Muse, his 604 points trail only David Pastrnak (608), Nathan MacKinnon (695), Leon Draisaitl (711), and Connor McDavid (793).

The only thing he hasn’t done is help the Rangers win a Stanley Cup. In the team’s two runs to the Conference Finals, Panarin wasn’t able to match his regular season production. In 2021-22, he had six goals and 10 assists for 16 points to tie for third with Kreider on the team in postseason scoring. Throughout that spring, it looked like something was bothering him. In 2023-24, he recorded five goals and 10 assists for 15 points to rank third on the team during the postseason behind Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck.

Now 34, he has an important decision ahead that could impact both the Rangers and his career. With a full no-movement clause, it’s entirely up to him whether he decides to agree to waive it to go chase a Cup. By going public, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury doesn’t have as much leverage.

Martin Gets First Win

In his first start for the Rangers, Spencer Martin picked up his first win by making 25 saves. After giving up an early goal to Konecny on the game’s first shot, Martin steadied by stopping 25 of the next 27 shots.

He was particularly strong in the third period when the Flyers turned up the volume. Despite facing several high-danger scoring chances, Martin only allowed Trevor Zegras to beat him. He made 12 saves in a busy final period to earn the victory.

Sullivan Gets 500th Win

After waiting a while, Sullivan got his 500th win as an NHL coach. Most of his success came in Pittsburgh where he went 409-255-89 in a decade before leaving to take over the Rangers this season.

His first year hasn’t gone according to plan with the Rangers only 21-22-6 through their first 49 games. They currently rank 15th in the East with the fewest points (48) in the conference. The 6-3 victory was only their fourth win in regulation since Nov. 28.