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Henrik Lundqvist on his performance and an Igor Shesterkin update

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers leads the team out to play against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2020 in New York City. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers leads the team out to play against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2020 in New York City. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers lies on the ice following a third period save on Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2020 in New York City. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers lies on the ice following a third period save on Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2020 in New York City. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers did Henrik Lundqvist no favors by taking a penalty 23 seconds into the game.  It was the worst possible way for a goalie who hadn’t played in weeks to get back in action.  Meanwhile, it looks like Igor Shesterkin could be closer to a return than previously believed.

New  York Rangers coach David Quinn revealed that wunderkind goalie Igor Shesterkin has been skating and taking shots.  He indicated that his return could be sooner than later.

In his post game press conference when asked about Shesterkin, Quinn said “He  feels a lot better…he’s been on the ice, taken some shots, nothing up high.  He might be back sooner than we envisioned, but it’s really an injury your’e going to have to monitor daily,  but he has made a lot of progress in a week.”

That’s good news as it comes when the “lightest” part of the remaining schedule is imminent.  The Rangers play five games in the next 12 days.   After that, they play 11 games in 20 days to finish up the season.  Getting Shesterkin back in action would be a huge boost for the team as it enters those brutal final three weeks.

Despite the interest in Shesterkin, most of Quinn’s comments were about the return of Henrik Lundqvist.  Quinn was insistent that none of the blame for the goals could be laid at the feet of the veteran goaltender. “(Lundqvist) made some big saves early.  We were really on our heels after they got the first on and he kept it a bay and we can’t fault him for any of them.”

In the case of the first two power play goals, Quinn blamed the penalty killers. “We lost coverage on the first and second goals….we’re just standing there, we don’t pick sticks up.  We didn’t have stick coverage around the net so it doesn’t have anything to do with your goalie.”

While Quinn didn’t address when Lundqvist would see action again, he said he hasn’t lost any confidence in the Swede.  “We want to put him in a situation to succeed. I though he was fine tonight, I don’t think Hank was our issue tonight.  You may look at it statistically, but Hank was not our problem.”

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