Rangers D Redden returns in big way

Dec 11, 2008 - 6:11 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- After missing one game with a lower body injury, New York Rangers defenseman Wade Redden returned to the lineup in Wednesday's 3-2 overtime victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.

Redden played a major role in the triumph, recording the secondary assist on all three of New York's goals to match a career high.

The 31-year-old Redden suffered his injury in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Canadiens in Montreal and sat out Sunday's 3-0 home setback to the Calgary Flames.

A native of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan who signed a six-year, $39 million free-agent contract with New York this past offseason after spending the first 11 seasons of his career with Ottawa, Redden has recorded two goals and 13 assists in 30 games this campaign.

Drafted second overall by the New York Islanders in 1995, the 6-2, 212-pound Redden has registered 103 goals, 322 assists and 594 penalty minutes in 868 career contests with the Senators and Rangers.