Zuccarello motivated Rangers to victory – TV 2

Six and a half minutes into the fifth quarterfinal match between New York Rangers and Washington Capitals, came tonight first big cheers roaring in Madison Square Garden.

For it appeared Mats Zuccarello up on the big screen in the hall.

Zuccarello on the big screen
Swede was back in combat for the first time since he got the puck in the head against the Pittsburgh Penguins for two weeks ago. He watched the game from one of the VIP boxes in the stands.

He waved to the crowd and smiled over the reception he received from the home fans.

– The most important thing for Zucca now is not to get back on the ice, but to get well again. It was a tough blow to his and it’s going to take a while for him to come back. But it’s cool to see him here. He must take one day at a time, and fight on. We keep all contact with him and support him, says Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist to TV 2.

– Cool to have him in the dressing room
He thought it was good to have humørsprederen back in the locker room before the game.

– It is quieter without him, says star goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

– Zucca is always happy. Whatever he goes through. He is a wonderful human being. I think all solved some up when they saw him today. He has not been here so much, so it was cool to have him here in the locker room and have a chat with him. He is going through a bit unusual thing. We just have to support that teammate and buddy. So we hope he’s okay, says Lundqvist.

But it did not look so promising for Rangers.

Dramatic ending
With two minutes left they were lying under 0-1, and it seemed that the season should end tonight.

With victory would be further Capitals 4-1 in matches.

But then showed Chris Kreider up and hammered the puck in the goal. Making 1-1 and play extension.

Derek Stepan let pass to Kreider goal, and he was also second last on the puck when captain Ryan McDonagh scored the winner barely ten minutes into the extra period.

Thus reduced Rangers 2-3 in matches.

They still need to win the last two games in the best of seven series. Next match Sunday in Washington.