New York Rangers fall to EV Zug 8-4 in last preseason matchup –NHL Matchup Update
Having spent four days back-to-back in distant countries and playing against foreign teams starting from September 29, New York Rangers felt the jetlag and lost to EV Zug, 8-4, on Monday, October 3, at the Bossard Arena in Zug, Switzerland, to finish off
the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) preseason.
It is certainly not the end of the line for New York Rangers just yet as they still have two games remaining to start of the 2011-2012 regular season abroad, part of the 2011 NHL Compuware Premier Series against Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, both
in Stockholm, Sweden.
New York Rangers newly acquired superstar centre over the offseason, Brad Richards, has been playing phenomenally, but is ready to rest for a few days before the beginning of the new season.
"I can't wait to get going", centre Brad Richards told NHL.com. "I think we're all a little over this part of (the trip), especially the way it's ended with four in five nights, all the travel. We're excited to get to one place and practice. We haven't really
practiced and we all know as players we need to get together and have a few hard practices to get focused in on one thing".
For New York's head coach, John Tortorella, it was a different experience altogether, but the main aim of the preseason is to evaluate players and playing with foreign teams on a bigger ice rink and different rules, it was hard to decide who the final 23
will be.
"It's a totally different game", Rangers captain, Ryan Callahan, said. "You can see that on the forecheck. There is so much room out there that it's something to get used to”.
Esa Pirens, Duri Camichal and Josh Holden scored for EV Zug during the first period, but were quickly followed by Ryan Callahan, Mike Rupp and Artem Anisimov of New York to settle the score, 3-3.
Glen Metropolit and Josh Holden made the tie-breaker and extended the lead 5-3 for EV Zug. Ruslan Fedotenko scored his second of the preseason with less than two minutes remaining to keep New York alive and within reach of one.
The third and final period of regulation was all EV Zug in which Esa Pirnes, Damien Brunner and Fabian Schnyder scored three goals straight to end the match in their favour without any Rangers interference.
New York Rangers will face-off against Los Angeles Kings in Stockholm, Sweden on Friday, October 7.
Tags: