New York Rangers shutout HC Sparta Prague 2-0 in first overseas matchup -NHL Preseason Update
The National Hockey League (NHL) has gone overseas with some of their teams, part of the NHL premier exhibition preseason. New York Rangers showed what the North American major league is made up of after a stunning, 2-0, shutout of the HC Sparta Prague on
Thursday, September 29, 2011, at the Tesla Arena in the Czech Republic.
Rangers’ goalie, Martin Biron, found it easy to adjust and proved that the foreign crowd did not faze him at all by making an impressive 21 saves, for his teams’ second preseason win and first shutout.
"I've been feeling it in practices the last couple of days, since we've been here", said Biron. "I was very excited to get a full game in, anxious a little with butterflies. I think that might have carried over into the first period and getting a jump. That
first period was a very good test for me and then to sustain that level of focus and energy throughout the game. That was good".
Due to a steadfast Martin Biron in the net, New York Rangers focused on getting used to the alien ice, which had them confused during the first period and fighting to get the puck out of their end.
Luckily, they came along and began to comeback to normality by playing like a true NHL game.
"I had so much time", Artem Anisimov said, laughing. "I caught the puck, looked at it and then I shoot. Sometimes when you're in a hurry the puck can bounce, but I made sure".
The second period was New York’s time to shine as Anisimov and Ruslan Fedotenko scored consecutive goals, nearly three minutes apart to give Rangers a 2-0 lead with 1:30 left in reaching the midway mark.
They again nearly lost control against HC Sparta Prague during the third and final regulation period, but with a concrete defender in the net, Rangers managed to pull off another miracle victory.
New York Rangers will now travel to Gothenburg, Sweden, in order to face Frolunda HC on Friday, the second overseas matchup part of their four game tour of Europe.
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