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Game 44: MTL 5 NYR 4, Three goals in 62 seconds doom New York |
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The Rangers blew a game they likely should have won. Heading into the third with a 3-2 lead, New York held Montreal to three shots in the first seven-plus minutes. Then the roof caved in with three goals surrendered in 62 seconds.
I got into a twitter conversation last night with someone. His view was that Henrik Lundqvist didn't play poorly and the goals allowed weren't his fault per se. While that may be true to a certain extent and Lundqvist made several excellent saves, when a stop was needed, it wasn't to be found.
Carey Price wasn't particularly good as well. But up 5-4 and the team reeling and in need of a big save, he made it, stopping Michael Grabner on a partial breakaway. Compare to that Lundqvist, who after surrendering the tying goal to Alexei Emelin found Max Pacioretty bearing down on him on a breakaway less than a minute later. It was a no contest, Pacioretty beat him through a five hole that a tractor trailer could have fit through. One goalie made the big save at the big moment and the other didn't. If you want to be an elite goalie and get paid the elite money, then you need to make the big save. This year, Lundqvist has failed to do so.
Lundqvist is a shell of his former self right now. His confidence is completely shaken and shot. In the past, his surprise focus and ability to anticipate resulted in stellar play between the pipes. This year, for whatever reason, shots that used to be stopped are whizzing past him or he is only getting a piece of but are still ending up in the net.
Maybe it is age and his reflexes are slipping. It's possible that his positioning, playing deep in the net, is also hurting him, since he is relying on reactions rather than positioning. Hawkeytalk put it well in the prior blog comments. "Have to wonder if Allaire tries to turn Lundqvist into a positional goalie as he ages and slows down. If Lundqvist continues to play a deep in the crease reactionary style, there isn't much Allaire can do because he cant make Lundqvist most faster and if Hank continues to guess, its not like Allaire can have a mic in his ear telling him what to do or how to read the play."
As suggested, age maybe an issue with changing. Plus trying to overhaul 30+ years of a style during the year is next to impossible. But, unless Lundqvist does a 180 and regains that confidence and reliance on his anticipation, he will need to become better at playing angles and being in better position. Right now, I hope there is nothing physically or personally wrong with Lundqvist, because his play has dropped off the table. As a result and it's a chicken and egg or causation/ correlation question, his confidence is gone.
Just watching him after the game, you can see he is searching for answers and has none. The team has a cushion on a playoff spot but you would love to get the #1 spot, especially since a few of the teams have hit mild bobbles lately. Plus, you want to reward the rest of the team for their play with a win and solid goaltending.
Alain Vigneault may have to turn to Antti Raanta - presuming his lower body injury won't cause a long term absence - because he has been much steadier between the pipes. You can say Lundqvist hasn't played poorly but he sure as heck hasn't played well. Ignoring his slippage would be foolish and a disservice to the rest of the team and organization.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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