Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist is learning to enjoy the ride this season
Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes a save in the second period of a game against the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Nov. 23, 2015. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Henrik Lundqvist, hockey Zen master, was asked last spring about the complicated matter of motivation as the Rangers prepared to embark on their most recent playoff run.
Was it difficult, someone wanted to know, to stay focused through the drudgery of the regular season and the early playoff rounds when all that really would matter was a return to the Stanley Cup Final?
Not at all, Lundqvist answered, adding that is no way to go through life. Appreciating the journey is as much the point as reaching the destination, is it not?
The journey would end a round earlier than it did in 2014, as you may recall. But here we are again, down the chute and back near the starting square. And sure enough, Lundqvist is back at it, ready to climb the ladder one more time and as good as ever at age 33½.
If he is feeling any boredom or jadedness this autumn for a team that will be judged by what it does in May and June, he is doing an excellent job of hiding it.
On Monday night he shut out the Predators, 3-0, in a game the Rangers had no business winning after being dominated for the first two periods. He is 12-3-2 with a 1.74 goals-against average and .946 save percentage.
In part, this has been the result of accepting coach Alain Vigneault's challenge -- posed on the goalie's way out the door last June -- to start better than he has in some other seasons.
That he has done, in part by forcing himself to chill out and enjoy the ride. He said he has been smiling during games for the first time in nearly a decade.
"I've always been intense; I've tried to take that down a notch and just be more aware," he said. "I think awareness has been what's been the best part of my game so far. I try to be relaxed but at the same have that compete level that I need."
The Predators failed to score in the first period despite outshooting the Rangers 14-3, helped by four penalties on the Blueshirts.
Fans chanted King Henrik's name. His teammates should have joined in, come to think of it.
The Predators' target practice continued into the second period. After two they had attempted 65 total shots to the Rangers' 20.
The closest they came to scoring was when Lundqvist was not in goal at all, having taken a dangerous trip far from the net. But the Predators failed to convert.
"When I took the first step, it seemed like a good idea," he said, able to laugh at himself.
The Rangers are good, but a quarter of the way into the season, their record is better than they are, thanks to one player in particular.
"Our best player is our goaltender, and obviously we rely on him a lot," Vigneault said. "We're trying to improve other parts of our game."
Fortunately for the Rangers, there is plenty of time left for that. Not that Lundqvist is looking ahead.
When asked about the possibility of reaching the milestone of 40 regular-season wins for the first time in his career, he declined to bite.
"That's too far away," he said. "It's been feeling good so far but I've been very focused on the process. My process is obviously good practices, but when I come to the game, it's just: next shot. What do I need to do to stop that shot?
"No more than that. No looking at how many wins I'm going to get. That's way ahead.
" So far it's been fun. I've really enjoyed playing. We have a great team here; I hope we can keep building on the start."
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
