Henrik Lundqvist might start again in second game of Rangers' back-to-back
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist keeps his eyes on a puck during the second period against the Ducks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t tested often, seeing only 20 shots in the Rangers’ 5-1 win over the Ducks on Sunday. He did have to be sharp at times, though, such as when he stopped a third-period breakaway by Ondrej Kase. The save had the crowd chanting “Henrik! Henrik!’’
“I haven’t seen a lot of these games where — there’s a few moments where you have to come up with a couple big saves and that will be enough,’’ Lundqvist said. “Most nights it’s more [required] than that. And so I’ll take it. It’s nice to just feel solid.’’
Coach David Quinn was asked if Lundqvist might start back-to- back games, given that he wasn’t overly taxed against the Ducks and Monday’s game in Philadelphia is a night game after a day game.
“I am tempted,’’ Quinn said. “I haven’t made that decision yet, though. It’s certainly on the table.’’
Blue notes
Filip Chytil appeared to injure his left knee in a third-period crash into the boards but returned to the game later in the period. He was limping slightly in the locker room after the game, but Quinn said he will be “fine.’’ However, the Rangers called up forward Phil Di Giuseppe from AHL Hartford in case either Chytil or Kaapo Kakko — who missed Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury — is unable to play in Philadelphia . . . Brendan Lemieux, who walked away from a fight with Erik Gudbranson late in the second period, was given a roughing penalty and a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the second period. “I wish he would have avoided that situation,” Quinn said. “But that being said, I mean, I know officiating is difficult, but I just wish he’d get treated a little bit differently than he has been lately. You know, I just want all players to be treated equal. And sometimes it doesn’t seem that way with him.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
