The Rangers closed out their regular season on Friday with a win over the Capitals, and now, the team can begin preparing to host its first playoff game since 2017.
That was Mika Zibanejad's first season in New York, and has been searching to return to the postseason ever since. That wait ends on Tuesday night against the Penguins at The Garden.
"It's been a grind," Zibanejad said after the win over Washington. "It's been a couple long years, definitely worth the wait. To be back in the playoffs, looking at this group that we have, I'm super happy I get to be a part of that, to be part of the solution when everything happened. I'm just really, really excited to get this going.
"We play 82 games, play every season to make it to the playoffs. We were fortunate enough to clinch…definitely a good feeling. Really looking forward to this."
New York gets the Penguins in the first round, a team they've handled of late, outscoring Pittsburgh 11-3 in their last three contests, all wins for the Rangers. The last time the two teams met came at The Garden on April 7, and ended with Igor Shesterkin waving goodbye to the Penguins, who were leaving the ice after being shut out 3-0.
But now, with the series getting underway on Tuesday night, Zibanejad doesn't believe recent matchups mean much anymore.
"I don't know, I don't think so," Zibanejad said. "We're familiar with what they do and what kind of team that is, but now it's 0-0. Everyone starts at zero. I don't think it makes a big difference."
Zibanejad will at least give himself Saturday night to enjoy the reality of the Rangers being back in the playoffs before shifting his focus to the Penguins.
That way, he can get some rest after the 82-game grind.
"If I think about it too early," Zibanejad said. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep."
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