Lundqvist gets first night off of season

TORONTO - In the fifth game last season, Henrik Lundqvist rested and Steve Valiquette faced Anaheim. The Rangers' No. 1 goaltender then appeared in the next 11, including a relief role against the Sharks, on his way to a career-high 73 appearances.

Lundqvist, carrying a 3.75 GAA and facing an average of 35 shots per game, got his first breather of the season Thursday night, but stayed on the ice a long time after the morning skate working with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire.

Early in the year, Lundqvist said, repetition is important in the search for a rhythm. "Shape-wise, I feel great," he said Wednesday. "Technically I can work on a few things . . . I'll have a good week of practice and get ready for the weekend."

Lundqvist will certainly play one or both of the next two games, against Boston on Saturday and New Jersey on Sunday. "These are important days for Hank, because when you're playing all the time you're not practicing and working on the things you need to work on," coach John Tortorella said. "Hank will play; I'm not sure it'll be back to back."

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Defenseman Steve Eminger was a healthy scratch Thursday night for the first time this season. He had one assist and was minus-2 in four games. Matt Gilroy and rookie Mike Sauer, who dressed for the third time this season, were the third defense pair. Sauer, 23, watched the last two games after dressing for the first two. He looked around at the media crush at the ACC and had two words: "It's amazing."

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For the second time in three road games, the Rangers wore their home blues. The Maple Leafs, like the Islanders on Oct. 11, chose to wear their new alternate whites and gave the Rangers advance notice . . . Ottawa management is spreading the word that they are looking to make changes, but rumors that the Rangers may have interest in center Jason Spezza appear unfounded. Spezza carries a $7-million cap hit for the next five years, so the Blueshirts would have to move multiple players.