Remember when we wrote about how badly Henrik Lundqvist was struggling, and how Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said “no doubt” there was a confidence issue at play?
You should remember. It was only six days ago.
What a difference a week can make. Tonight, Lundqvist will make his fourth consecutive start and aim for his fourth consecutive win when the Rangers host the Flyers at MSG.
Lundqvist has been terrific since a ghastly effort against Dallas on Jan. 17, in which he allowed seven goals on 27 shots. First, he made 23 saves in a win over Toronto last Thursday. Then, 21 saves in a shutout against Detroit on Sunday. The following night, he had one of his best efforts of the season, making 36 saves to topple the Kings.
All told, Lundqvist has stopped 80 of his last 84 shots faced, good for a .952 save percentage.
The performance was vital, but also pretty clutch. The Rangers had to go with Lundqvist over the last few games, as stellar backup Antti Raanta is shelved with an injury until after the All-Star break. Vigneault could’ve tried to go with third-stringer Magnus Hellberg, but that would be asking a lot considering Hellberg has just 51 career minutes of NHL experience.
As for the Flyers, they’ll go with Steve Mason in goal this evening.
Elsewhere...
-- Frederik Andersen, fresh off a 26-save shutout of Calgary on Monday, will get yet another start for the Leafs. Detroit’s Jared Coreau was in for last night’s 4-3 OT loss for the Bruins, so it’s likely Petr Mrazek will go tonight.
-- Ryan Miller has played the last three games, so he gets a break as the Canucks wills tart Jacob Markstrom in Colorado. The Avs will counter with Calvin Pickard, after AHL recall Spencer Martin stared the last two games, both against San Jose.
-- Cam Talbot, the NHL leader in starts, will get another one as the Oilers take on the Ducks in Anaheim. No word yet on who goes for the home team, as the Ducks didn’t skate this morning. John Gibson, knocked out of his last start with an upper-body injury, is a game-time decision.