Mika Zibanejad's 1000th Game Celebration Clouded By Record-Setting Loss
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images A historic night that began with celebration due to Mika Zibanejad playing in his 1000th NHL game, ended historically for a different reason as the New York Rangers recorded a total of 9 shots in their 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday night, tying a single-game franchise low from Dec. 11, 1955. As of late 2025, about five percent of all players in NHL history had played 1,000 games, so Zibanejad joined some elite company on Monday night, which was a cause for celebration.
“You’re in elite company when you get into that range,” Mike Sullivan said. “I think it speaks to first and foremost, his passion for the game, his love of the game and wanting to play, continue to do his best. I think it speaks to his elite level talent because the guys that tend to reach those milestones are elite players from a talent standpoint, but are more than that.
“They bring some of these other things that I’m talking about, the intangibles, his passion for the game, his willingness and his drive to do what it takes to keep his game at an elite level, his endurance and his durability through the course of season after season. All of those things add up to why he’s able to accomplish this milestone. ” Before the game, the Rangers honored Zibanejad, accompanied by his wife, Irma Zibanejad, daughter, Ella Zibanejad, and parents, Mehrdad Zibanejad and Ritva Zibanejad, as they joined him on the ice level during the special ceremony.
Mika was emotional watching the tribute video narrated by Irma, and also had a touch of Ella’s voice in it as well. “Special,” Mika said of the tribute video. “Just hearing her voice and what she said, and even hearing ‘I love you’ from Ella in the middle of it — it was a cool experience.
” After the video was shown, Mika was gifted with a commemorative stick by J. T. Miller, Adam Fox, and Vincent Trocheck.
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