Can’t dethrone this King
When Henrik Lundqvist returns on Saturday or Sunday, it will be wham-bam, thank-you Cam.
You knew this was inevitable, and that it is only right from a historical and tactical standpoint. But that doesn’t necessarily make it very fair. Cam Talbot’s 19-8-4 record this season? His 2.19 goalsagainst average, compared to 2.25 for Lundqvist?
Sorry, but in the end, the King is the King. Everyone else is just a courtier − and potential trade bait. Once Lundqvist is back, he’ll be all the way back. There will be no hedging of bets down the stretch, no mysteries in the crease. Alain Vigneault will decide on Friday whether Lundqvist returns Saturday in Boston or at the Garden Sunday against the Caps. After that, the Rangers will become again primarily a one-goalie hockey team. From now until the playoffs, barring injury, Lundqvist will be very busy shaking off the rust.
“(A two-goalie system) is a valid one, considering how well Cam’s played,” Vigneault said. “But you look at the body of work Hank’s done over the years, there’s no doubt that Hank’s the No. 1 guy.”
Lundqvist will take a seat on the bench Thursday in Ottawa as the backup, but he won’t be sitting very often. And, yes, Lundqvist prefers it that way.
On Wednesday after practice, Lundqvist praised Talbot for his work, said “he played at a really high level.” That doesn’t mean, however, Lundqvist wants to share duties in goal. With a few famous exceptions − around here, Chico Resch and Billy Smith made it work to some degree − that is not an approach that has functioned successfully in the playoffs.
“I’ve been part of (a two-goalie system),” Lundqvist said. “Sometimes that works, sometimes not. I prefer to play more, get into a rhythm.”
He’ll get that chance. Lundqvist had his second day of practice on Wednesday. Vigneault thought the goalie looked sharper already. His teammates demonstrated little mercy on Lundqvist, beating him high and low whenever a drill called for such heresy.
Lundqvist got a good workout, and will get another one Thursday morning in Ottawa with the team. That was one of the reasons Vigneault sent Mackenzie Skapski to Hartford, so that Lundqvist can drill with coaches and players on the road, sharpen his timing.
“The energy level is fine. Physically I feel good,” Lundqvist said. “Now it’s down to details. (After sitting so long), you tend to make the first move. It’s more about being comfortable, seeing pucks and the speed.”
Lundqvist’s readiness in April may well determine whether the Rangers satisfy growing expectations for the postseason. They own the best winning percentage in the league. If the playoffs started today, the Rangers would be the Stanley Cup favorites. That’s a sentence you haven’t read in about 21 years.
Would Vigneault ever go back to Talbot if Lundqvist falters? The coach isn’t dumb enough to say so, even if that would seem to be a last-ditch option. For now, Lundqvist remains the team’s reliable, last line of defense. Talbot, meanwhile, becomes an extremely attractive trading chip.
Talbot, 27, has one more year left on his contract at a relatively modest $1.45 million. Half the teams in the league surely covet him, especially after his performances these last two months. If Lundqvist is Lundqvist again, the Rangers might deal Talbot and lean on Skapski or a free agent get such as Matt O’Connor from Boston University.
That is a discussion for the summer, when we’ll know better whether Lundqvist was able to carry the team on his shoulders again. He’s done that now for a decade. Talbot has only been the savior now for a couple of months. Meh.