Ryan Strome has trived since moving to the top line with Mika Zibanejad on the shelf. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
Ryan Strome, No. 1 center?
In the absence of Mika Zibanejad, who missed his seventh straight game Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers had performed better than anyone could have reasonably expected. Coach David Quinn’s group somehow had found a way to go 4-1-1 – against some top-level opponents – without Zibanejad before they took on the Sidney Crosby-less Penguins Tuesday.
And Strome, the 26-year-old, former No. 5 overall pick by the Islanders, was a major reason why.