A couple of seasons ago the New York Rangers were supposed to be one star
winger away from being a contender – so they went out and picked up
Marian Gaborik. Gaborik, though, slumped last year, so the
team's new greatest need was a top-line center – so they went out and picked up
Brad Richards. And now Richards will make his regular-season debut for the Rangers on Friday
as the club takes on the Los Angeles Kings in an NHL
betting matchup at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
New York made it to the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference
last year, but their postseason journey didn't last long as they were bounced in
five games by the Washington Capitals.
Whether or not Richards can improve the team's fortunes in this year's
postseason remains to be seen, but for Friday at least the crowd will be less
interested in him and more keen on seeing the team's goaltender, native son
Henrik Lundqvist.
Lundqvist had another strong season for the Rangers last year, putting up 36
wins and posting a goals-against average of 2.28 and a save percentage of .920.
However, his Kings counterpart on this trip was stellar in 2010-11 as well, with
Jonathan Quick winning 35 games while putting up a GAA of 2.24
and a save percentage of .920.
Quick's netminding led the Kings to the seventh seed in the West last season,
although they also bowed out in the first round of the playoffs (to the San Jose
Sharks). Los Angeles blueliner Drew Doughty will be on the ice
on Friday after holding out for much of training camp in a contract dispute –
the team caved, and he's back on the roster.
Get all your NHL odds at
Bodog.
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