TORONTO – Mika Zibanejad became the last man standing. He is now the only Ranger to have played every game this season for the Rangers after Chris Kreider did not make the trip to Toronto because of a lower-body injury.
Zibanejad is the Rangers’ leading scorer. He entered Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs with a career-highs in goals (28), assists (39) and points (67). With his normal left winger, Kreider, not playing, coach David Quinn decided to try newcomer Brendan Lemieux, acquired at the trade deadline from Winnipeg as part of the return for Kevin Hayes, on the first line, next to Zibanejad and right wing Pavel Buchnevich.