Rangers veteran delivers two historic milestones in the Winter Classic

B/R Open Ice captured the moment perfectly: «ZIBANEJAD HAS THE FIRST EVER WINTER CLASSIC HATTY.» The numbers back it up - three goals, two assists, and the first player ever to record both a hat trick and five points in a Winter Classic game.

The New York Rangers steamrolled the Florida Panthers 5-1 under the open roof at loanDepot Park, and Zibanejad was at the heart of everything. He scored once in the first period, once in the second, added helpers on both Artemi Panarin's goals and finished with an empty net goal.

For a city built on spectacle, this was pure takeover energy. The first outdoor NHL game in Florida turned into a showcase for New York's No. 93, and every touch looked composed, inevitable, and cruelly efficient.

As a Panthers fan, you almost had to respect it. Zibanejad didn't just score - he made the ice feel tilted.

His first goal came off a slick feed from Trocheck, another ex-Panther, and it set the tone. From there, it was classic Zibanejad: deceptive edges, one-timers in stride, and no wasted motion. Even Igor Shesterkin's saves felt easier with that kind of cushion.

Florida's lone goal came from Sam Reinhart on the power play, but the Panthers never matched the Rangers' pace. With Seth Jones injured and Matthew Tkachuk still out, the lineup looked tired under the bright Miami lights.

For Zibanejad, the night lands in the record books - five points and a hat trick, both firsts in Winter Classic history. For the Panthers, it's a reminder that on the biggest stage, one superstar can rewrite the whole story.