Mika Zibanejad Climbs Swedish All-Time NHL Goal Scoring List, Surpasses Henrik Zetterberg
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad reached a significant milestone in his NHL career, surpassing Henrik Zetterberg to become the seventh-highest scoring Swedish player in league history. The achievement came during the Rangers’ 3-2 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Madison Square Garden.
Zibanejad’s Historic Goal
Zibanejad’s 24th goal of the season, scored on a power play, marked his 338th career NHL goal, moving him ahead of Zetterberg’s previous total. The goal also broke a five-game losing streak for the Rangers. NHL.com reports that Zibanejad is now five goals behind Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators, 343) for sixth place on the list.
Game Recap: Rangers vs. Penguins
The Rangers overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie the game, with goals from Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh. Anthony Mantha and Ryan Shea scored for the Penguins. The Rangers secured the win in a shootout, thanks to a decisive goal from Vincent Trocheck. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was crucial to the victory, making 31 saves, including five during the overtime period.
Zibanejad’s Season Stats and Impact
Through 58 games this season, Zibanejad has recorded 53 points and 159 shots. CBS Sports highlights his team-leading goal total of 24, with 12 coming on the power play. He also now shares fourth place with Nicklas Lidström for the most power-play goals among Swedish players, with 132.
Reactions and Future Outlook
“They started after they scored. There’s a change in momentum there, and then it just stayed that way for a while,” said Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner following the game. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan praised Shesterkin’s performance, stating, “It’s nice (to have Sjestiorkin), I won’t lie. I think he is the best goalkeeper in the league. Just considering his level of competition, he is an elite player. So it’s nice to have him between the pipes.”
Zibanejad’s continued success positions him to potentially climb even higher on the list of top Swedish goal scorers in NHL history. His consistent performance remains a key factor for the New York Rangers as they pursue their playoff goals.
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