New York: The NHL’s ‘Stadium Series’ shifted from balmy Southern California to chilly New York on Sunday where the Rangers battered the New Jersey Devils 7-3 at Yankee Stadium.
Mats Zuccarello scored two of the Rangers’ four second-period goals.
The Rangers reeled off six unanswered goals to win their second outdoor game, having taken a 2-1 overtime win against the Flyers in Philadelphia on January 2, 2012.
Marc Staal, Derek Stepan and Dominic Moore all posted a goal and an assist, while Rick Nash and Carl Hagelin also scored for the Rangers whose goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped 19 shots.
The Rangers will get a chance to do it again on Wednesday when they play the Islanders in another Yankee Stadium contest.
“It’s something you are really proud to be a part of,” Zuccarello said of the first outdoor NHL game to be played in New York City.
The start of the game was delayed for just over an hour due to sun glare on the ice.
A light snow fell during the second period, lending the wintry feel that was lacking on Saturday night when the Ducks beat the Kings 3-0 at a transformed Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
The 10 goals tied an NHL-high for an outdoor game, as the Detroit Red Wings took a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009.
Norway’s Zuccarello was clearly the star of the show, although the Norwegian admitted he wasn’t well-versed in Yankee Stadium lore.
“I’ve never been here and baseball is not that big in Norway,” Zuccarello said. “But I’ve lived in the US for quite a while now so I know it’s pretty special.
“To be able to play at this rink and get the win too is pretty amazing.”
He said it more than made up for missing the 2012 Winter Classic in Philly, when he’d been sent down to the American Hockey League after a disappointing run to start the 2011-12 season.
“Obviously it was a little disappointing not being able to play that,” he said. “I wasn’t good enough to play.
“But today was probably better, playing in front of our own fans in New York, so I’m happy I could play with this group here and at this stadium.”
