ZUCCARELLO RECALLED BY RANGERS

According to the AHL transaction wire “The Norwegian Hobbit,” Mats Zuccarello, has been recalled by the New York Rangers.

Andrew Gross reports on his Rangers Rants blog that Zuccarello will be with the Rangers for tonight’s tilt with with the New York Islanders to replace an injured Ryan Callahan. Gross also reports that ex-Whale Michael Del Zotto will also miss the game with an injured right hip. It’s ironic that, as Gross points out, Zuccarello makes his NHL return against an Islanders team that was the last one he played against in the NHL in Game Three of this season before being whisked off to Hartford.

Zuccarello has 12 goals, 24 assists in 37 games for the Whale and will be playing in his third game in three days. He would have been doing so anyway as he would have been in the lineup for today’s Whale game as well.

The Whale do not have any extra forwards on the current roster so KenGernander is likely to insert Blake Parlett into the lineup for this afternoon’s tilt with the Manchester Monarchs and run seven defenseman.

Game time is at 3pm. Follow the play-by play with us at @HowlingsToday on Twitter.

Here’s the official release:

NY RANGERS TRANSACTION UPDATE

Recall Forward Mats Zuccarello from Connecticut (AHL)

New York, March 11, 2012 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has recalled forward Mats Zuccarello from the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Zuccarello, 24, has registered 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points, along with 22 penalty minutes in 37 games with Connecticut this season.  He ranks fourth on the team in points and assists, and is tied for fifth in goals.  He also ranks third on Connecticut with a plus-five rating, and fifth with five power play goals.  Zuccarello has posted nine multi-point efforts, including three, three-point performances.  He recorded an AHL career-high, three assists on November 12 at St. John’s.  Zuccarello also registered a career-high, seven-game point streak from November 26 at Springfield to January 13 at Norfolk, recording five goals and six assists over the span, including four consecutive two-point efforts from December 2 at Providence to December 9 vs. Hershey.

The Oslo, Norway native skated in three games with the Rangers to begin the season.  He was originally signed by the Rangers as a free agent on May 26, 2010.