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Rangers hide before mobbing Zibanejad after five-goal night

New York forward figured something was up when he came back to empty room

by Dan O'Leary @DanOLeary25 / NHL.com Staff Writer

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.

Tweet from @RangersMSGN: What happens in the locker room after your 5th goal of the game is the OT winner.@MikaZibanejad | #NYR | @NYRangers pic.twitter.com/nQaHNKhQ9g

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.

Tweet from @NYRStatsInfo: 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.

Tweet from @PR_NHL: 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). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/R623tF7WIO

His teammates were loving it on social media.

Tweet from @strome18: Unbelievable @MikaZibanejad @NYRangers. @TheGarden was going off tonight!!!! LGR!

Tweet from @HLundqvist30: Are you kidding me??🤯 Did that just happen? What a performance!! #Mikaforpresident #NYR

Tweet from @TonyDee07: When u watch what Mika did tonight.... #LGR. MSG was insane, the best fans in the nhl we love it! pic.twitter.com/gCxTzFhytH

After the fifth goal, it was all over but the celebrating.

Tweet from @NYRangers: FIVE. GOALS. BALL. GAME. pic.twitter.com/8irmJAxoEj

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