It’s a rare opportunity when you get to see a “franchise immortal” playing at his best with a championship still eluding him. Henrik Lundqvist is that guy. He wasn’t the first pick in the 2000 NHL Draft, that was Rick DiPietro and he wasn’t the first goalie chosen by the New York Rangers (Brandon Snee, 143rd overall) instead he was chosen 205th overall, in the 7th round and yet he’s the most important draft pick the team has made in decades.
There are a number of great players in sports who don’t have a ring and yet they make their respective Hall’s of Fame and have impressive careers. “The King” has done that. His detractors would say he’s not even their best goalie, Cam Talbot is. Yes, some are posting that. However, most know that his stellar play and his impeccable 10-0 record in playoff elimination games at MSG has now elevated the status of this mere mortal.
Will this be the year? I think this series comes down to playing better than Tampa’s goalie, Ben Bishop and who out coaches the other? Jon Cooper and Alain Vigneault are two of the best. Different guys for sure, AV has more experience and Cooper is an up and coming X’s and O’s guy who makes solid adjustments. AV finally made the St. Louis adjustment by benching him for over 10 minutes in their last win but will he slip back and give him yet another chance in Tampa? Most likely.
Cooper on the other hand moved Steven Stamkos to the wing and that move has energized their captain and NHL superstar. They inserted Valtteri Flippula at the pivot and now he’s back to being a handful and I would expect them to stay with this change.
Ryan Callahan is practicing fresh off an emergency appendectomy (is there any other kind?) and he should see some action early in this series. Game 1 is a lot to expect but hockey players aren’t the same as we humans.
In the end Cooper has more depth to play with. What if he decides to insert first rounder, Jonathan Drouin in a game? He could make a difference. You can’t rule out the possibility that he gets another shot to stick in these playoffs.
AV might have to insert defenseman Matt Hunwick, the last remaining depth on the team and that could actually make them better. Lets face it Dan Boyle has missed a lot of shots and has been pushed around way too often. He practiced but you never know how that will affect his head injury. I know he can move the puck but he’s been terrible as the trigger on the struggling power play. The injury may have helped the lineup. Only time will tell on this one.
This could be a 1,000 word column on all the issues the Rangers have and yet here we are at the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. I’ve been picking them straight through since the playoffs began and I will be doing it once again. Rangers in 7.
One more thing. Ranger fans expect Brian Boyle to score against their team. And getting past that and every other bad scenario that you can come up with, Lundqvist has been the reason they haven’t gone off the rails and he will be the reason why they won’t in this series, barring injury.
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