Rangers happy to have Knicks back
Brian Boyle of the New York Rangers celebrates his second goal against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden. (Nov. 9, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
The Rangers -- co-tenants with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden and at the MSG Training Center in Westchester -- are pleased that their basketball brethren apparently will be back in the neighborhood very shortly.
"We used to see them in the lunch room at the practice rink; all good people," said center Brian Boyle, who at 6-7 has the build of an NBA forward and attended a few games last season. "So it's been a little different. It stinks whenever pro players are locked out, so I'm happy for them. I hope they got a good deal."
The tentative agreement is not finalized, but Henrik Lundqvist hopes it happens. "Having the Knicks back is absolutely great for New York sports and the city, even though we might have been getting a little more attention," the goaltender said Saturday after shutting out the Flyers, 2-0. "Athletes only have a certain amount of time to play. If you lose a year, you can't get it back."
Forward Brandon Prust, a "huge sports fan" who has been at charity events with Knicks players, said he is looking forward to attending games again when the season resumes, tentatively on Christmas Day. "This is a great building to play in and to watch a game," he said.
Some who have been around the Garden longer than the three Rangers also are hopeful that the building soon will be hopping on otherwise dark nights. "It's always good to have work, especially in the economy we have now," said Tom Matthews, a veteran pressroom employee, "and especially with the holidays coming around."
Rangers icon Rod Gilbert, whose No. 7 is retired and whose playing days began at the old Garden on Broadway, said he is "very excited."
Gilbert, who has Knicks season tickets, said: "It was getting to be a dangerous time for the NBA. People were starting to lose interest. And I felt a little depressed for the guys who work here and for the people who work for the Knicks. But I'm also happy for the fans; I mean, they only got a chance to see Melo and some other good players for part of last year."
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