Based on MetLife Stadium’s well-known shoddy turf field conditions, expectations were low for the ice quality on the freshly built rink.
The consensus inside the Rangers locker room, however, was that they were pleasantly surprised.
“It was nice,” Mika Zibanejad said after the Blueshirts concluded their one and only outdoor practice on Friday ahead of their Stadium Series tilt with the Islanders on Sunday. “Blinded me for the first couple of minutes, so I blame every bad pass on that, I guess. But, no, it was good. Better than I expected. They’ve done a good job.”
With no ice issues to worry about, the Rangers were able to go about their business as usual as the sun set Friday. A light practice is rarely head coach Peter Laviolette’s way, so the only difference to the Rangers’ session was the backdrop.
Afterward, the Rangers not only got to enjoy some extra time on the ice with family members, but also take a moment to soak it all in.
“That’s a special feeling, special after practice or game because you’re outside,” said Artemi Panarin, who fielded questions with his son sitting on his lap. “Feel a different feeling. I don’t know how to explain that.”
Having spent a lot of his childhood skating outside, Panarin said he feels right at home in such a setting. He mentioned that his favorite part of the outdoor games is watching the planes fly over the stadium during the national anthem.
Panarin only wished he ordered skates for his son in time for him to really participate in the post-practice skate.
Several Rangers players will be participating in their first outdoor game in the NHL on Sunday, including Vincent Trocheck, who played in much warmer climates in Florida and Carolina before coming to New York.
“This is going to be cool,” said Trocheck, whose only outdoor skating experience came from his dad’s makeshift rinks in their backyard in Pittsburgh. “I mean, walking out there was just a cool experience. It’s not something that you do every day.”
Matt Rempe, who was recalled from Hartford for the second time this season in the wake of Blake Wheeler’s season-ending injury, skated on the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow and Adam Edstrom.
All signs point to Rempe making his NHL debut on Sunday, which would make the 6-foot-8 forward the first in the league history to skate in his first-ever NHL game outdoors. His family is also scheduled to make the trip to come see him play.
“A hell of a story,” said Rempe, who took his rookie lap when Jacob Trouba told him to before the Flames game, but he was ultimately scratched. “It would be unbelievable.”
Tyler Pitlick made his Wolf Pack debut against the Laval Rocket in Hartford on Friday night after clearing NHL waivers.
It marked Pitlick’s first AHL contest since the 2015-16 season.
He skated on the right wing of the second line with Bobby Trivigno and Artem Anisimov.