New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist’s top five saves of 2016-17
The 2016-2017 New York Rangers saw some excellent play from their star goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist. At points in the season, his play was questionable, some asking if he reached his peak and wouldn’t be able to maintain his great play. However, he proved them wrong in many instances. He even reached an important milestone this season, winning his 400th career game.
With the season over (quite too soon, if you ask many), it’s time to look back on all the good this team did. Particularly, it’s time to look back at Lundqvist’s best saves of the season. He played some magnificent games, including a few shutouts that will be mentioned later.
Although the loss and the pain is still fresh, the memories of the season last forever. Here’s Lundqvist’s top five saves of 2016-2017:
5.) Save on Thomas Vanek Against Red Wings
It was the final season at Joe Louis Arena for the Detroit Red Wings, and at a crucial point in the season they had struggled. For the first time in 24 years they didn’t make the playoffs, and Lundqvist had something to do with it.
On January 22nd, 2017, Lundqvist and the Rangers shut out the Red Wings 1-0 on a J.T. Miller goal. However, if it wasn’t for the save by Lundqvist at 2:30 of the first period (1:03 in the video), the game could have ended much differently.
This type of save was performed by Lundqvist a few times during the season, and make no mistake, none of them were easy. However, this save was one of his best because it shows his true athleticism and speed in getting across the crease and staying with Vanek to prevent a goal. (And Tomas Vanek is no stranger to being robbed by Lundqvist.)
4.) Save on Jamie Benn Against Stars
This game in general was one of Lundqvist’s best of the season. This is because after having Antti Raanta start the past few games in net for the team, Lundqvist was finally put back in action. However, that wasn’t the only reason his play was outstanding. Early into the period he was checked by Cody Eakin, who ended up getting suspended.
Lundqvist left the game for a few minutes before returning. In his absence, Antti Raanta helped shutout the Stars, as the goaltenders combined to help the Rangers win 2-0.
This save came at 8:42 of the second period (1:25 in the video). At the time, the game was still scoreless. The puck was shot off the post near Lundqvist’s skate and came back out for a rebound. Lundqvist flung himself to the side and came up with a spectacular save that went off his shoulder padding.
This save shows his agility and awareness of the puck. A shot like that one statistically goes in over half the time. The mere fact that he was able to detect where the puck was is incredible enough, and making that save definitely counts as one of his best of the season.
3. Save on Jeff Carter Against Kings
The New York Rangers and the Kings have formed a rivalry since 2014, no doubt about it. In games like these, where it’s late in January, and the points are starting to become more important, hockey tends to start upping its intensity. That’s exactly what happened in this game.
It was a back-and-forth type of hockey game for a while, but Lundqvist stepped up when he needed to. That, of course, is one of his best attributes as a goaltender if not his greatest quality.
At 8:30 of the first period (0:45 in the video), he flashed the left pad on Carter to make a spectacular save. The puck was shot from the middle and rebounded to the side where Cater tried to stuff it in, but Lundqvist said no.
This save helped spring the Rangers awake in this game, and it showed off his focused mentality. His mindset is what wins him hockey games a lot of time, and this save showed it.
2.) Save on Shea Weber in Game One Against Montreal
Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs saw the Rangers start out on the right foot. This, of course, wasn’t an easy task against a team they have an abundance of history with. However, the spectacular play of Lundqvist in this game was the difference, as the Rangers shut out the Canadiens 2-0 at the Bell Centre.
At 4:26 of the first period in Montreal, the Rangers were killing a penalty, and Lundqvist came up big with a tremendous save on Shea Weber that stunned the crowd to keep Game One scoreless. He caught the puck in his arm after a swooping motion to keep it from going past him. Check out 2:32 of the video to take a look.
Lundqvist was the story in this game because he came up with the right save at the right time. Had he not, who is to say that game and that series wouldn’t have gone differently?
1.) Save on Tomas Plekanec in Game Six Against Montreal
To that point, it was the scariest moment in the Rangers’ season. Up 2-1 with under two minutes to go in a close-out game at the Garden, which the Rangers were 7-2 in their previous nine coming into that night, they had to maintain the lead.
A minute and forty seven seconds. That’s how fast a game can change. With exactly 1:47 left in regulation time, Lundqvist made his best save of the season. It’s all about getting the saves at the right times, and he couldn’t have executed that any better. Check out 3:43 in the video to relive the heart-stopping save.
Next: New York Rangers: Why 2018 will end with a Stanley Cup victory
The puck came out in front to Plekanec, who had no defenseman on him, and he tried to jam it past Lundqvist, but he stuck out the pad to deny the Canadiens a tie game. With 17.8 seconds to go in the game, Derek Stepan scored an empty-netter to seal the victory and move on to round two. However, the team couldn’t have survived without the above and beyond play of Lundqvist.