The Rangers won their fifth in a row, capturing all four games on their homestand against the West, defeating Colorado 4-2 on Saturday. Henrik Lundqvist was brilliant throughout, especially in the third period, in stopping 32 shots for win #400; the 12th goalie in league history to reach that mark. New York (36-18-1) will be back in action Monday against Columbus with the power play the main one aspect of their game that needs work.
The moment when Lundqvist secured win #400:
Watch the moment Henrik Lundqvist got his 400th win!!! #NYR pic.twitter.com/YP8MhQkhlk
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 12, 2017
New York came out flying early and drew first blood when Kevin Klein scored his first of the game at 2:26 into the game. The Rangers carried play most of the period, yet only scored the one goal, as Calvin Pickard was very solid. Colorado tied the game with 15. 2 second remaining. So-so defensive play in the neutral zone allowed Nathan MacKinnon to gain the offensive zone with speed. Derek Stepan failed to pick up the trailer, allowing Gabriel Landeskog to tie the game at one.
The Rangers were passive defensively early in the second and it cost them. John Mitchell beat Lundqvist with a deflected shot off Adam Clendening's stick through his five-hole at 3:01 of the second to give Colorado the lead. Jarome Iginla has solid pressure in front, somewhat distracting Lundqvist, but it's a goal that should have been stopped. Pickard was very good again in the second, stoning all nine Rangers' shots.
But New York owned the first part of the third and it was enough. Klein scored his second of the game at 2:50. New York lost an offensive draw and the puck went around the net. Strong work by Jesper Fast resulted in a quick attempt up the boards by Mark Barberio that was stopped by Klein and the puck came to Oscar Lindberg. He dished it to Fast, who put it back to Klein, whose slapshot beat a screened Pickard.
Rick Nash scored the game-winner at 5:36. After great work by Nash resulted in the puck getting deflected off his stick, it came to Nick Holden at the point. Holden dished it across to Ryan McDonagh, who sent it to Stepan low on the boards. Stepan didn't attempt to shoot but put the puck hard across to Nash, who turned his body to get his stick in position on the ice and deflect it past Pickard.
Then it was all Lundqvist. He made six saves within a stretch of 2:35 right after the Rangers took a 3-2 lead, including a pair of spectacular ones. Colorado carried play most of the rest of the period and Lundqvist was strong, as he could smell the win. That victory was sealed when Kevin Hayes scored an empty-net goal with 1:38 to play following good work in the defensive zone.
Remember when Lundqvist was struggling? Remember when Antti Raanta started four in a row and blogosphere went crazy? Lundqvist has now started 11 games in a row, finding his form in that stretch, aided by the consistent work. Since the January 17 debacle that began this run, he is 8-1-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average and 9.39 save-percentage, numbers that look even better if you take out the one blip of an outing against Columbus.
Lundqvist joins Martin Brodeur, the NHL's all-time leader in wins with 691, and Hall of Famer Tony Esposito as the only goalies in League history to win 400 games with one franchise. Lundqvist got to the 400-win milestone in 727 games, the fastest ever amongst goalies. Brodeur was previously the fastest goaltender to reach 400 career wins, accomplishing the feat in his 735th career NHL appearance.
While Lundqvist may not yet have a Cup, he has done everything within his power to help bring one back to NYC. If he isn't the #1 all-time Ranger - an honored reserved for Messier or Leetch - he is in the top-three. For all the hate he gets at time, Lundqvist has done nothing but represent this time with class and honor each time he takes the ice and especially off the ice.