Bobby Bevilacqua

Mats Zuccarello made an appearance at Madison Square Garden for Game 5, which is good news in many ways for the Rangers and their fans. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

During Game 5 at Madison Square Garden last night, the jumbotron, known as “Gardenvision,” showed the injured Rangers winger Mats Zuccarello watching the game from the press box. Immediately, the Rangers fans showered him with chants of “Zucc!” He played it cool with a quick wave to the crowd, but later had a huge smile on his face.

When Derick Brassard handed the Broadway hat over to Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello was seen in applauding his teammates in the background. You can see that video here.

For the fans, it was very reassuring to see Zuccarello looking happy and healthy at the Garden. Some wild rumors have been going around, with people saying anything from him being in a coma and not walking to having his career over. Yesterday laid all of that to rest, but the extent of the Norwegian winger’s injuries were already known.

VG Sporten, a newspaper based in Norway, spoke to Mats Zuccarello’s agent, Kevin Skabo, about the extent of his client’s injury.

“Mats got a real blow, a sharp concussion. Now everything’s under control, but we do not know when he’s back.”

Skabo then went on to say how Zuccarello was struck in the temple, and that he is on the mend and participating in light training, but they have to be careful with this type of injury. The doctors will let him know when he is healthy enough.

It was also reported today that Zuccarello accompanied the team to Washington D.C. for Game 6, and that the team said that he is progressing. Other than that, there is no update on his status.

The light training and traveling means that he may be near returning. I still don’t think that this series is a possibility, but if the Rangers advance, he may be available for future rounds, which would really benefit a team that is struggling to score goals.

Zuccarello build tremendous chemistry alongside Derick Brassard and Rick Nash. In the regular season, he had 49 points (15-34-49), and sees the ice with better vision than anyone else on the team. He had two points in the four complete playoff games that he played, provided a physical presence and was strong on the forecheck.

Zuccarello was strong in his four full playoff games, and was a steady force on the top line with Nash and Brassard. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

But being there for the team in Game 5, and now Game 6, may have more of an impact than just showing that he may be near return.

Zuccarello is a big time fan favorite, and a big hit in the locker room. His teammates love him, and play better when he is out there with them. When rumors of Zuccarello getting traded were floating around, the team played some of their worst hockey of the season.

He may not be out there on the ice, but he’s with the team, and they know that they have his full support. And maybe that’s something that they can use as a rallying point.

Last season, the Rangers came back from a 3-1 series deficit after rallying around Martin St. Louis following the passing of his mother, France. It helped the team focus in one game at a time, gave them something else to fight for, and motivated them.

Thankfully, this time around it isn’t as tragic as last year, but maybe they can rally around Zuccarello, Try to ensure that he plays again sometime in these playoffs. Any motivation for the Rangers would be advantageous, and maybe Zuccarello could be that rallying point.