Mika Zibanejad had five goals and zero teammates waiting around in the locker room to celebrate with him.
The New York Rangers forward, who scored five times including the overtime winner in a 6-5 win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, returned to the locker room after receiving the game's first star and found it empty. He wasn't alone for long, however. His teammates were hiding out in an adjacent room. As soon as Zibanejad started piling stuff in his locker, his teammates piled on him.
Zibanejad told MSG TV he knew something was up when he arrived in an empty locker room. But a historic effort -- and that is exactly what his five goal game was -- deserves a big celebration.
Mika Zibanejad is the second player in NHL history to register five goals AND the game-winning goal in overtime in the same contest (the first was Sergei Fedorov on Dec. 26, 1996 vs. Washington). #NYR
And Zibanejad's scoring binge hasn't just been limited to Thursday.
Mika Zibanejad has scored 14 goals in a 10-game span. Only one player in @NYRangers history has posted as many goals through 10 contests: Jean Ratelle (15 from Feb. 5-22, 1972 and 14 from Feb. 6-23, 1972). #NHLStatspic.twitter.com/R623tF7WIO
