New York Rangers: Up and down value tracker 12-17

Up: Ondrej Pavelec

Although Ondrej Pavelec has not been quite as good as former backup Antti Raanta, he was solid in his one game played this week. In the shootout loss to the Dallas Stars, Pavelec stood tall and allowed only one goal on 45 shots and kept the Rangers in the game. Most people felt that he deserved a win for his outstanding performance but the offense simply could not put the puck in the net.

What Pavelec needs to do now is keep up this kind of play. Coach Alain Vigneault has shown that he does not trust him. With Saturday night’s game against the Boston Bruins being the second half of a back to back, Pavelec should be starting. However, Vigneault has decided to play Henrik Lundqvist for the second time in as many nights.

Henrik Lundqvist cannot play every single game and should especially not be starting both games of a back to back. While Lundqvist has been playing well this year, it is a long season. If the Rangers want to make the playoffs, they need both goalies to be playing well. And, if they want to go far in the playoffs, they need to rest Lundqvist now so he is not burnt out come the start of them.