For Michael Ryder, Sunday will be the hat trick.
When the Devils take on the Rangers at Yankee Stadium, it will be the third NHL regular-season outdoor game for Ryder. The only other Devil to appear in one is Jaromir Jagr, in 2012 with the Flyers.
“This is my third one, so I’m pretty lucky that way,” Ryder said after practice, in the Yankees locker room — which will be the Devils locker room for the game because they are the home team.
Ryder’s first outdoor game was the Heritage Classic in Edmonton in 2003 — the league’s first regular-season outdoor game — when he was a rookie with the Canadiens. The game was held at McMahon Stadium with more than 57,000 in attendance, and the Canadiens beat the Oilers, 4-3, with Ryder picking up an assist.
On New Year’s Day in 2010, Ryder was a member of the Bruins, who beat the Flyers 2-1 in overtime at Fenway Park in Boston.
“It’s two pretty storied ball teams that have played in those two spots,” Ryder said. “Fenway was fun. It’s a different ballpark. It was older, but it was pretty neat playing there, and Yankee Stadium has just another aspect to it. It’s going to be great and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Ryder, tied for the team lead in goals with 16, said he knows the importance of this game. The Devils, who trail the Rangers by two points in the Eastern Conference standings, have won the three previous meetings against the Blueshirts this season.
“It’s going to be fun to play here especially outdoors but the main thing is going to come out and try and get those two points,” said Ryder, who is looking to go 3-for-3 in outdoor games. “We’ve been pretty good against them so far, but they’re a good hockey team and we are right there with them trying to battle for a playoff spot. This isn’t going to be easy.”
Ryder said he was happy for one of his teammates in particular — Martin Brodeur, who will start in goal.
“It’s good for Marty,” Ryder said. “All the things that he has accomplished in his career and this is just another one — an outdoor game. I think he is excited about it. He’s a competitor and he definitely wants to win this game [Sunday].”
Corey Schneider, who has a 5-1-2 record with a 1.10 goals against average and a .960 save percentage in his past eight starts, made a strong case to start, but said he understood the decision.
“[Head coach Peter DeBoer] just pulled me aside and said it’s been 20 years in the making for Marty and obviously this is a big moment for this organization, and I think to have Marty start would sort of be symbolic of what he’s meant to this team,” Schneider said after practice. “He has played well all season long so get him into a game, and we have all the faith in the world that he can get the job done.”