Longtime friend enjoys Zuccarello's success

The New York Post shines a light on excitement from Norway over the success of Mats Zuccarello and the Rangers, doing battle against the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Norway teammate Alex Bonsaksen has known Zuccarello nearly two decades. He knows the story of perseverance as well as anyone.

“When we were younger, a lot of people would say that he was too small to make it in the top league in Norway, and then he dominated. And then he was too small to make it in Sweden, then he proved them wrong again,” Bonsaksen said. “I always knew he was a great player, the most talented, but even I didn’t think that he would end up in the NHL.”

Bonsaksen added, “He’s always been the player that loves big games. He pretty much always delivers when he’s on the spot. He really enjoys it.”

Source: Howie Kussoy, New York Post