The Victoria Cup is a single game playoff between the European Champions Cup winner and an NHL Team. The winner of the Cup will receive 1 million Swiss francs (approx. 900k $). I had the pleasure to visit both matches of this years Victoria Cup in the Postfinance Arena in Bern (Switzerland).

Day 1:
It had been 49 years since the Rangers last visit to Switzerland and it was the first exibition game between an NHL Team and a Swiss National A League Team. Over 16'000 people witnessed the Rangers victory. The New York Rangers outshot SC Bern 12-3 in the first period but until the third period the Rangers had only a close 2-1 lead. At the end the Rangers overpower SC Bern. A third period scoring spree gave Blueshirts a comfortable 8-1 win.


Day 2:
The New York Rangers won the inaugural Victoria Cup against the European Champions Cup winner Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) from Russia. It was the first game between NHL and Russian teams in 17 years.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk had a strong three to nothing lead for nearly 40 minutes. They played very well and had a few chances to increase their lead.

Chris Drury cut it to 3-1 with a two-man advantage late in the second period and Dan Fritsche made it a one-goal game at 5:45 of the third. Drury again tied it with a little under 10 minutes left.

The last ten minutes of the game were intense. With 20 second remaining, Ryan Callahan intercepted a Metallurg pass from Malenkikh and found himself on a breakaway which he didn't miss. A great 4:3 comeback victory for the Rangers.

I took a few pictures.