Adam Edstrom had never actually dropped his gloves and fought someone in his entire hockey career — until Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
The 6-foot-7 rookie hadn’t even logged two minutes of ice time in the Rangers’ 6-5 overtime loss to Utah when he got caught in a scramble in front of the net.
Off a faceoff at center ice, Edstrom and the rest of the fourth line created an opportunity off the rush before it was swallowed up by Utah goalie Connor Ingram.
Utah forward Jack McBain started jabbing at Edstrom while Sam Carrick and Michael Kesselring broke out in a tussle behind them.
By the time Edstrom and McBain dropped the gloves, they were considered the secondary fight to break out and were awarded game misconducts.
So was Edstrom preparing for this moment this summer?
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve talked to this guy,” Edstrom said with a smile, motioning over to Matt Rempe in the locker next to him. “He knows what he’s doing out there. Just protect yourself whenever it happens.”
Edstrom didn’t know Carrick and Kesselring started fighting when he began engaging with McBain, who the Swede credited for holding up his end of the melee.
It effectively ended Edstrom’s night.
Peter Laviolette said any time a player adds a new layer to his game, the Rangers head coach considers it a positive.
“We played alright,” Edstrom said of his line. “The first game we played pretty solid, got a plus-one rating. Yesterday was more of a choppy game, maybe. I feel like whenever we get out there, we’re just trying to bring some energy to the team, get pucks deep and just play a solid game.”
Following an optional practice Sunday, the Rangers will take on the Red Wings twice in the span of four nights.
It will serve as a sort of home-and-home series Monday and Thursday.
Beginning at Madison Square Garden on Monday, the Blueshirts will then venture to Detroit for the second game Thursday, which also marks the beginning of their three-city road trip.
