3-FOR-ALL 3 FOR BLUESHIRTS
THE questions were patiently tolerated by Henrik Lundqvist following Monday’s practice. There was one, then another and then another about Saturday’s Game 2 performance in Ottawa in which the goaltender did not have the right stuff while allowing six goals on 34 shots in the Rangers’ 6-5 double-overtime defeat. Finally, Lundqvist said to me, “You know, there’s no reason to go back over it now. I don’t want to waste any more energy on that game. That one’s over. It’s all about the next one.” The next one comes Tuesday at the Garden in what will be an essential challenge for the Blueshirts, down 2-0 in the conference semis to a team with way more talent than is commonly recognized. It becomes an essential test of Lundqvist’s ability to bounce back, for without him at the top of his game, the Rangers become far less than the sum of their parts. It has been that way for 12 years. More is needed from most of the Rangers. But without Lundqvist at his peak, coach Alain Vigneault could make every textbook move with his personnel and present a perfect game plan to break the Ottawa trap and frustrate Erik Karlsson, and honestly, it would all likely go for naught. “It’s behind me,” Lundqvist said. “It was behind me [Sunday].” Lundqvist has been here before. Was knocked out after two periods in Game 6 of the 2014 first round in Philadelphia and responded with a 2-1 Game 7 victory at the Garden the next night. Was pulled from Game 5 of the 2014 conference finals midway through the second period in Montreal and posted a 1-0 series clincher at MSG 48 hours later. Was bombarded by the Lightning in Game 3 of the 2015 conference finals in a 6-5 OT defeat and was brilliant in recording a 5-1 victory in Game 4 two nights after that.
“You learn how to have a short memory,” Lundqvist said. “You learn how to deal with the off days. I’m much better at it now than I was at the start of my career. I was much more intense and used more energy on my days off when I was younger. I’m always learning.”
Roger Federer is one of the individuals from whom the King has sought to learn, and is an unabashed admirer of the 18-time Grand Slam champion. Lundqvist has attended Federer’s matches at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, and they also share the marketing agency, Team8.
“I’ve talked to Roger a lot about his training and his approach,” the 35-year-old Lundqvist said. “He’s a champion, the best ever, so of course I’m interested in learning and taking what I can from him. But I don’t want to get into details.”
Federer, who captured the Australian Open in January at age 35, told The Post via an email exchange he “marvels” at Lundqvist for his competitive nature and drive to succeed.
“I don’t think I have too much advice as he’s already so good at what he does,” Federer said. “I do think he subscribes to the same things I do in the sense that he also believes there is no substitute for hard work. You can tell he loves hockey and loves his job. That mentality is especially helpful when you’re playing during a long season.
“I always marvel at how intense and competitive he is, which is definitely needed at this high level of pro sports. There are definitely similarities between the two of us but I think by virtue of the fact that he plays a team sport and I play an individual sport there are also differences. I do think we’re similar in the sense that we both are very focused internally on what we need to do in order to succeed.”
Ah, “focus,” the term Lundqvist has used over and over again this year. The term he used following practice in describing the life of a goaltender.
“You play 100 games during the year and maybe 40 times you feel at your absolute best,” Lundqvist said. “The rest of the time, you battle. You find the way. You can’t expect to feel great. You go out and build your game.
“And there are a lot of times where you might not feel at your best that you play your best because your focus is at its sharpest. There are no excuses. I’m not looking back.
“I’ll be ready.”