Lundqvist on the rebound in Game 4
King Henry dominates to tie up series
TAMPA — Jon Cooper was convinced it was a ploy. It had to be, said the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Sure, the Lightning were a dangerous team offensively. They had scored so many goals on Montreal’s Carey Price in the second round of the playoffs that the Hart Trophy finalist laid some blame on him for losing the series. After scoring 12 goals in two games against the New York Rangers, it looked like the same thing was happening to goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
But questioning his own ability? Cooper laughed. Lundqvist does not question himself. This is a goalie who “has paved his way probably into the Hall of Fame.”
You might beat him once or even twice. But three times in a row? It just doesn’t happen. Right?
Indeed, the real Lundqvist showed up for the Rangers in Friday night’s 5-1 win against the Lightning in Game 4. The one that New Yorkers call ‘King Henry’ and the one who has been so good when the Rangers have needed him to be.
Just as he did in the last round — when he saved his best goaltending for when New York was down 3-1 in the series against the Washington Capitals — Lundqvist put on a show on Friday night. He stopped 38 of 39 shots as the Rangers tied this Eastern Conference Final 2-2.
Game 5 is in New York on Sunday night.
“Hank’s done this a multitude of times where after a subpar performance, comes back and just shines in the moment,” said Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault.
“He’s a pretty competitive guy,” said forward Derick Brassard. “He’s going to battle in the net. He’s our leader and he’s going to step up for us.”
Lundqvist was not the only one who stepped up in a crucial game. Rick Nash, who had just two playoff goals heading into the game, scored twice, while Martin St. Louis and Keith Yandle finally picked up their first goals of the playoffs.
It was the type of response that New York had been looking for — and frankly expected — after losing Games 2 and 3 by a combined score of 12-7. And on a night when the Rangers were outshot by almost a 2-to-1 margin (39-24), it started with their goalie.
Lundqvist had been New York’s best player in the first two rounds of the playoffs. But his save percentage dropped from .946 against Washington to .856 in the first three games against the Lightning and their highoctane offence. After allowing six goals for the second straight game, some were even wondering if backup goaltender Cam Talbot should start Game 4.
Even Lundqvist admitted he questioned his ability.
“Well, 12 goals in two games, of course you’re going to question some things,” said Lundqvist. “But I have a lot of confidence in myself, in the way I play, and the support from the team and the way we play as a team. I think we all feel like we can beat this team. Just small corrections that need to be made.”
The Lightning outshot the Rangers 19-6 in the second period, but aside from a power-play goal from Steven Stamkos, no one could beat Lundqvist. He stopped Alex Killorn on a breakaway and got a piece of a Victor Hedman shot with his shoulder.
At the other end, the breaks were finally going New York’s way. Tampa Bay’s Brenden Morrow misplayed a puck behind the net, which led to a Chris Kreider goal late in the second period. And less than two minutes later, Yandle took a point shot pinball off Hedman’s shin pad and past Tampa goaltender Ben Bishop to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
St. Louis and Nash added third period goals to make it a runaway. It was more goals than Lundqvist needed.