Detroit Red Wings left wing Adam Erne and Rangers center Mika Zibanejad battle for the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. Credit: AP/Paul Sancya
DETROIT – The stripped-down, banged up, rebuilding Detroit Red Wings are bad. Really bad. So for a team like the Rangers, coming out of the NHL All-Star break with two games against the Red Wings represented an opportunity to pick up some easy points in their long shot quest to try and make the playoffs.
Well, mission accomplished. The Rangers beat the Red Wings, 1-0, Saturday night on the strength of Mika Zibanejad’s first-period power-play goal, completing a weekend sweep that, for now at least, allows them to continue to chase their postseason dream.