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Henrik Lundqvist shines in a 1-0 shutout over Detroit

By Steve Paulus|
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 1: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes a save on a shot by Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Detroit Red Wings as Dylan Larkin #71 of the Wings and Brady Skjei #76 of the Rangers look for the rebound during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on February 1, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 1: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes a save on a shot by Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Detroit Red Wings as Dylan Larkin #71 of the Wings and Brady Skjei #76 of the Rangers look for the rebound during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on February 1, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers looks to make a save as teammate
Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers looks to make a save as teammate

All eyes were on Henrik Lundqvist as he made only his second start in a month for the New York Rangers.  The veteran netminder who thrives on work came through with a spectacular effort and his first shutout in over two years.

David Quinn said that Henrik Lundqvist was the New York Rangers’ number one goalie and the Swede proved it with an outstanding 33 save effort.  It was his first shutout since he blanked the Ottawa Senators on November 19, 2017.

It was a very different Detroit Red Wings team the Rangers faced.  Jonathan Bernier was almost as good as Lundqvist in net for the Wings and they did a much better job of stifling the Blueshirts.  The only goal scored was on the power play by Mika Zibanejad on a great feed from Chris Kreider.

The one negative coming out of the game was an apparent upper body injury to Kreider midway through the second period. He got hurt in a collision in the corner and at first it looked like a bad knee, but in the replay you can see he was hit in the head by Zibanejad’s knee.

Chris Kreider heads to the locker room after taking a knee to the head from teammate Mika Zibanejad. pic.twitter.com/sxyyhfUxKt

After the game David Quinn said that he was feeling much better calling it “day to day, upper body…we don’t think it’s anything longterm.”   Considering the implications of a Kreider injury on the trade deadline, you can be sure that Jeff Gorton breathed a huge sigh of relief on that news.

But the story of the night was Henrik Lundqvist.   It was apparent he was on his game from the opening faceoff and he was forced into a number of tough saves.

He reflected on the three goalie rotation after the game. “I’m not going to lie, it feels really good to come back here and play well.  It’s been a pretty tough month for me and seeing a lot of action for almost 14 years I was used to be  out there and play and now it’s different.  You try to adjust to it, but you want to be out there and help the team.  It’s a good feeling to be out there again.”

He acknowledged that there was some puck luck. Dylan Larkin fanned on a shot with a wide open net and a Valtteri Filppula shot slid across the crease not two inches from the goal line, but no Detroit player could get to it.

Lundqvist  concluded, “When you get an opportunity you try to make the most of it.”  This night, he did.

Here’s a compilation of saves, courtesy of nhl.com.

With the shutout, it is virtually a lock that he will start Monday night against Dallas at the Garden.  Georgiev should play Wednesday against his favorite opponent, the Maple Leafs, meaning that Shesterkin’s next chance to score a goal will come on Friday night against Buffalo.

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