HOBBIT SEQUEL NOW PLAYING IN HARTFORD 

In a move that many saw coming, Mats Zuccarello, “The Norwegian Hobbit” has been returned by the NY Rangers to the Connecticut Whale. Zuccarello will be in the lineup Tuesday night when the Whale play game a critical game four in their first round playoff series against the Portland Pirates.

Zuccarello’s return could not come at a better time for the Whale. They currently trail two-games-to-one in the best of seven series after gutting out a 3-1 win Sunday night. Zuccarello is due for a goal scoring breakout and has been strong on the PP and has been consistent in finding teammates and setting them up for goals.

Portland sent defenseman Dennis Persson and forward Mark Mancari back for Sunday night’s game.  Zuccarello has the ability to be a game changer for the Whale, and in such a huge game, the diminutive player will have a great opportunity to come up big.

Here’s the official release:

New York, April 18, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Mats Zuccarello has been assigned to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Zuccarello, 23, made his NHL playoff debut in Game One of the Rangers Eastern Conference Quarter-final match-up vs. the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.  He also tallied an assist in New York’s season finale win vs. New Jersey on April 9, following his recall from Connecticut on April 8.  Zuccarello has registered six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with four penalty minutes in 42 games this season.  He tied for the team lead with nine power play assists, ranked seventh with nine power play points and tied for fifth with 13 assists at MSG.  He also tied for first on the Rangers and fifth and second in the NHL, respectively, with five shootout goals and three shootout game-deciding goals, and ranked second on the team with a 55.6% shootout percentage.  Zuccarello made his NHL debut on December 23 vs. Tampa Bay, tallying a shootout goal in the contest.  He recorded his first NHL point with a power play assist on December 27 vs. the New York Islanders, and notched his first career goal with the overtime game-winner on January 5 vs. Carolina.

Zuccarello returns to Connecticut where he registered 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points, along with 16 penalty minutes in 36 games this season.  He recorded 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in his last 24 AHL games with four goals and nine assists in his last 10 contests.  He led all Connecticut rookies in goals, points, shots on goal (107), and power play goals (three), and ranked second in assists.  Zuccarello posted an AHL career-high, four points, including his first career hat trick in a 7-1 win vs. Bridgeport on November 7.  He made his AHL debut on October 9 vs. Charlotte, and tallied his first career point with a goal on October 15 at Albany.

The Oslo, Norway native signed with the Rangers as a free agent on May 26, 2010.