NEW YORK – With the Yankees and Mets both playing playoff games and the Jets hosting “Monday Night Football,” the Rangers weren't the main attraction on the New York sports scene Monday. So if you're not quite interested in ice hockey yet, you've come to the right place. Here are four takeaways from the Rangers' 4-1 win over Detroit, which included a strong performance from Igor Shesterkin and a three-point night from Mika Zibanejad.

Zibanejad's aggressiveness is paying off

Zibanejad had just one shot on goal in the Rangers' first two games. He doubled that in the first period and finished the game with five shots. One came into an empty net, giving him his first goal of the year, and he also had two first assists.

The Swedish center didn't score points in any of the Rangers' first two games. That changed with a power play in the second period. He received the puck in the faceoff circle and acted as if he wanted to shoot. Instead, he placed a pass directly to Chris Kreider's stick. The winger directed the ball past Detroit goalkeeper Alex Lyon to give New York the lead.

“If you think that’s a shot, then I’m offended,” Zibanejad said with a smile when asked if he was shooting or passing. “Maybe because of the other vaccinations I had. But no, that's a pass. I tried to sell it as a shot, get the D-man to stand in front of it and bite the goalie on it.”

He received another important assist in the third period. He won a faceoff in the offensive zone and returned it to Reilly Smith, who fired the ball into the net for his first goal with the Rangers.

Zibanejad added his empty-net goal with 1:22 left.

“He’s a really good player, one of the best on our team,” Shesterkin said. “It’s really important for us that he gains confidence and can play in his own way.”

It wasn't a flawless game for Zibanejad. He tripped Lucas Raymond after turning the puck over in the third period, and his line (Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith) didn't have strong base numbers, according to Natural Stat Trick. Zibanejad still believes the trio has more potential.

“We’re close to clicking,” he said. “We are working on it. We want this to work just like everyone else. … We all believe that we will be successful and have a good line. It’s right there.”

Even as he scored his first three points of the season, Mika Zibanejad was called out for bringing down Detroit's Lucas Raymond. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Lafrenière's consistent strength continues

Only Artemi Panarin scored more even-strength goals than Alexis Lafrenière for the Rangers last season, and the 2020 No. 1 overall pick has continued to post a five-on-five ratio entering the 2024-25 season. On Monday, he scored his second goal of the season, firing a Panarin pass past Lyon in the first period.

Lafrenière almost got another point at even strength. Towards the end of the second period, he fed Vincent Trocheck, who shot into the net, but Lyon parried quickly and reflexively.

Special teams advantage

The Rangers had the third-best power play and third-best penalty kill in the NHL last season. Considering that most of both units' contributors have returned, it should come as no surprise that both groups still provide a major advantage. New York scored a power play goal and thwarted four Red Wings attempts.

Shesterkin is recovering

Shesterkin allowed six goals against Utah on Saturday, but responded well against the Red Wings. He made a big stop on Raymond in the four-on-four game in the first period and prevented a backhand from Andrew Copp. Detroit finally beat him with a goal from Dylan Larkin with 1.1 seconds left in the first period, but that was less Shesterkin's fault and more the Rangers' defense, leaving the Detroit captain alone in front of the net. Trocheck seemed to lose sight of Larkin during the play.

Shesterkin came up big again after a hooking penalty from Kreider in the second period. He blocked his post after a loose puck bounced near the net to Patrick Kane, parrying his former teammate's shot. In total, he made six saves in 1:19 minutes in this power play. That didn't include the impressive windmill save on Alex DeBrincat's shot, which came off a high stick from Raymond.

Arguably Shesterkin's best save of this young season came late in the second minute. A Filip Chytil turnover gave the Red Wings a two-nil victory, but Shesterkin fended off JT Compher in front of the net as the forward tried to bury a pass from Raymond.

“I just saw him in the front of the net,” Shesterkin said. “I knew he was a right-handed hitter and I tried to read the play and play a little aggressively.”

Towards the end of the third period, he again fended off Compher with a net defense and thus defended his two-goal lead.

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde certainly left the game impressed. He pointed to the alleged eight-year, $88 million contract extension that Shesterkin rejected.

“He’s special,” Lalonde said. “I understand why he turned down the $88 (million). Good agent.”

(Top photo of Igor Shesterkin making a save in the second period against the Red Wings: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)