Fit for the King
Lundqvist, Rangers flog Flyers to rebound from sluggish defeat
PHILADELPHIA — This was about response and responsibility — plus a heaping dose of quality goaltending.
“We all felt the importance of this game,” Henrik Lundqvist said after the Rangers’ 5-2 victory over the Flyers on Wednesday washed out the bitter aftertaste of Tuesday’s no-show 4-1 home defeat to the Sabres. “I think we’re a really good group with good character. Everyone cares.
“We needed to get that one behind us.”
Yes, most definitely the Blueshirts buckled down to close out the season’s first half with a gaudy 27-13-1 record that far exceeds all but the most insane individual’s preseason expectations. They competed in the tough areas (How about that shuddering check that Dan Girardi laid on New York nemesis Wayne Simmonds 7:00 into the second?) and refused to take the easy way out.
Still, the Rangers needed Lundqvist, right back on the horse in his third back-toback assignment of the year, to be at his best and provide equilibrium when the Flyers peppered him with a handful of shots from the high-danger zone while on the power play midway through a scoreless first period.
That came immediately after Lundqvist had stoned Simmonds on a semi-breakaway after the Philadelphia winger had taken a slash from Ryan McDonagh. There was that one, there was a save on Simmonds close in, one on Jake Voracek from the right, one on a Shayne Gostisbehere onetimer from the top and another after them on Brayden Schenn from the left circle.
And then it was Lundqvist using his glove to rob Schenn from point-blank range before sprawling and scrambling on his side for the follow-up rebound save to preserve a 1-0 lead at 4:19 of the second. This was vintage King.
“I felt like I competed really well,” said Lundqvist, who held the Flyers off the board until 12:32 of the third, by which time the Rangers were up 3-0. “We were all engaged. You could sense it. As the goaltender you want to be there for the big save.”
Kevin Hayes and Michael Grabner each scored twice for the Blueshirts, with Hayes breaking the scoreless tie by beating Steve Mason with a move off the rush at 2:08 of the second period. Chris Kreider got the other one, his 12th in the past 16 games, to extend the lead to 2-0 at 5:01 of the third.
“There are ups and downs in this league that you have to learn to manage as an individual and as a team,” Kreider told The Post. “Obviously we were way off [Tuesday], no excuses and we were all responsible, but we came in here focused on details and on turning it around.
“Each guy brings some- thing different and each guy might have something different from night to night,” Kreider said before invoking the name of former captain Ryan Callahan. “As Cally would say, ‘There are a variety of ways to play your game and get guys into it.’ ”
This was hardly an exhibition of fire-wagon hockey. Swatches of the game went by without either team generating a shot on net, let alone a legitimate scoring chance. This was fine for the Rangers, who have scored five goals or more 15 times and are third in the NHL with 3.39 goals per game, but who managed the puck well even when unable to play in the offensive zone.
“I thought we did well getting the puck up the ice,” said Kreider, tied with Grabner for the club lead with 16 goals, just five shy of his personal best. “When you’re not playing defense, it’s easy to play defense.”
The Blueshirts played without Marc Staal on defense, the alternate captain sidelined with an upperbody injury that will also keep him out of Saturday’s match in Columbus that leads into the club’s bye week. Coach Alain Vigneault shifted Brady Skjei to off-side on the right at Ryan McDonagh’s first-pair partner while going with Nick Holden-Girardi and Adam ClendeningKevin Klein pairs.
The defense was fine. The Rangers played a rather simple and controlled game and thus rinsed away the stench of Tuesday.
“It was important for us to show that we’re better than that,” Lundqvist said. “We haven’t always been as consistent as we want, but we’ve been able to respond quickly after a letdown. And that’s important.” larry.brooks@nypost.com