Mats Zuccarello missed the final two rounds of the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup playoff run this spring due to a scary head injury, but things may be looking up for the Norwegian winger.
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According to Norwegian television station TV 2, Zuccarello plans to play in a charity game in his native Norway on June 19.
"I can confirm that Mats [will make a] comeback on ice in the game along with several of his good friends from Rangers," Kevin Skabo, Zuccarello's manager, told TV 2 (translated), according to NHL.com. "It's going to be a big party in DNB Arena, and Mats [is] very happy that he can make a contribution on the ice."
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Zuccarello was injured when he was hit in the head by a shot from Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh in the club's Round 1, Game 5 series-clinching victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 24.
Zuccarello sustained a brain contusion and a hairline fracture of his skull after being hit by the shot and he didn't return for the rest of the Rangers' playoff run.
The postseason trip saw New York eliminate the Washington Capitals in Game 7 in Round 2 and then fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Zuccarello, 27, had 15 goals and 49 points during the regular season for the Rangers and added two assists in the postseason before McDonagh's shot struck him in the first period of Game 5 against Pittsburgh.
Zuccarello revealed three days after the Rangers were eliminated just how serious his ailment was.
"I was in the hospital for three days," Zuccarello said on June 1 per NHL.com. "I couldn't talk for a while. Just had a contusion, some blood in my brain. That affects a lot. Now I go to speech therapy. I'm getting much better. I couldn't say a word for four days. I feel much better."
Zuccarello's linemate Derick Brassard and fellow teammates Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin will take part in the charity game.
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