PITTSBURGH — Friendships are routinely put on ice in playoff series’ between former teammates.
What’s less common, though, is players who are as tight as Mats Zuccarello and Carl Hagelin facing off, as they will over the next two weeks in this highly-anticipated Rangers-Penguins first-round clash.
Don't worry. They are fierce competitors. They won't be fraternizing. There wasn't even a last supper among friends on Tuesday night.
"No," Hagelin said Wednesday morning before Game 1. "Playoff hockey. Focus on yours."
Nevertheless, there is a lot more to their bond than most.
Hagelin, a Swede, opened up to the Daily News in February about how he, his Norwegian buddy and Derick Brassard cried together in Zuccarello's hospital room on April 25, 2015, the day after Zuccarello had suffered a skull fracture, brain contusion and brain bleeding when hit by a puck facing the Penguins in the playoffs.