Rangers players revel in the opportunity to practice at MetLife Stadium
Adam Edstrom of the Rangers goes for the puck during practice outdoors at MetLife Stadium on Friday. Credit: Ed Murray
Jimmy Vesey was asked if the eye black he sported on his cheeks for the Rangers’ practice on Friday at MetLife Stadium actually was something he needed to cut the glare from the late afternoon sun, or just something to make him look cool.
“It’s just for the visual,’’ Vesey said two days before the Rangers face the Islanders at the home of the Giants and Jets.
Vesey played in the 2018 Winter Classic, the last outdoor contest for the Rangers, when they faced the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field.
“That day was freezing,’’ Vesey said when asked what he remembered about it. “Abnormally cold. But [it was] a pretty good temperature today, and it was nice to get acclimated to the rink.’’
Most of the players were excited to be playing outdoors. Many had their families in attendance and were able to skate with their children afterward.
Artemi Panarin brought his young son into the locker room and did his interviews with his son sitting on his lap. With Chicago, Panarin played outdoor games against St. Louis and against Minnesota, and he said he’d love to play every game outdoors. It makes him nostalgic, said Panarin, who remembers playing outdoors while growing up in Russia.
“That’s a special feeling, especially after the practices or games because you’re outside,’’ he said. “It’s like a little different feel.’’
Panarin’s son, Luca, who is 1 1⁄2 , didn’t skate on Friday.
“I wish I brought skates for him, but I’m a bad dad,’’ he said. “I just ordered too late.’’
Blue lines
In the wake of Thursday’s season-ending injury to Blake Wheeler, the Rangers called up 21-year-old forward Matt Rempe from their AHL affiliate in Hartford on Friday.
Rempe, a 6-7, 241-pound right wing/center, was called up earlier in the week and was a healthy scratch for the Rangers’ 2-0 win over Calgary on Monday.
Rempe, who has eight goals, four assists and 96 penalty minutes in 43 games for Hartford, skated in practice at right wing on the fourth line with center Barclay Goodrow and left wing Adam Edstrom.
If he plays on Sunday, Rempe would be making his NHL debut in an outdoor game.
“That would be a hell of a story,’’ he said. “And it would be unbelievable.’’
Rempe actually took his “rookie lap’’ Monday before the Calgary game but then did not play in the game.
“I was just standing there and then Troubs [Jacob Trouba] said, ‘You gotta go,’ ’’ he recalled. “And I was like, OK. If he tells me I’m going, I’m gonna go.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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