Lundqvist Watch: Back in tomorrow after four games off (Shutout)

[Crease]

Lundqvist has looked off this season. Given his great high-danger save percentage but poor low-danger save percentage and his own comments regarding focus, it looks like a mental, not physical, issue.

Anyway, Raanta is making his third straight start today, well-deserved too.

There is no controversy to date, but the press will of course try to make one now. Thought a thread would be fun to monitor the evolution of this mini-story in New York.

Click to read more...

 

[Drew4u]

It hasn't been confirmed Rantaa is starting...

 

[Crease]

It hasn't been confirmed Rantaa is starting...

Raanta was in the starter's net for the morning skate.

 

[who_me?]

It's always been mental with The King. LTIR with bruised ego.

 

[Kamiccolo]

That contract gets worse every year.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Obviously. He's a Stanley cup winning goaltender. Does Lundqvist have a ring? NO.

 

[Crease]

As I get older, and maybe it's the historian in me, the mini-stories that develop through a season become as compelling to me as the on-ice product. This is one of those stories. And I thought it would be fun to have a thread to track it. Knowing Hank, he'll be back to his elite self by January.

 

[FoxyClean]

 

[Maple Leaf]

Can't wait til he retires and starts a fashion line

 

[Irishguy42]

Can't wait til he retires and starts a fashion line

He's already a model for Bread & Boxers USA

 

[Crease]

Oh wow . . . I mean, ahem, no babe threads.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Stupid sexy Lundqvist.

"Play the hot hand" is as old as goaltending itself, no? Well, not literally, but you know. Doubt this is Henrik's swan song.

 

[Calad]

But why male models?




AV Is riding the hot goalie while hank works on his game with Benoit God-aire

 

[WesMcCauley]

Let Raanta play when he is playing like he is doing atm. The way it should be and this is why having a good backup is valuable. Lundquist is the starter but nothing wrong with playing a player who is on fire. Hank isnt bigger than the team, playing raanta now when he is on fire is the right thing to do!

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Where can I find high-danger scoring chances or high-danger save percentage and those stats?

 

[haakon84]

most overrated player over the past 3 years. bout time someone took over the reigns.

 

[haakon84]

Where can I find high-danger scoring chances or high-danger save percentage and those stats?

don't worry they'll be posted soon enough.

 

[Crease]

don't worry they'll be posted soon enough.

Bottom line is that this type of situation--franchise goalie struggling, back-up hot--is always difficult for coaches to manage. It'll be interesting to see how AV threads this needle if Raanta does it again tonight.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

IT IS NOT Hank's swan song though he isn't going to be God anymore in my opinion.

 

[hellvetet]

Let Raanta play when he is playing like he is doing atm. The way it should be and this is why having a good backup is valuable. Lundquist is the starter but nothing wrong with playing a player who is on fire. Hank isnt bigger than the team, playing raanta now when he is on fire is the right thing to do!

Indeed. And I'm pretty sure that Lundqvist is one of those goalies that doesn't get his feelings hurt when his back-up gets some well-deserved starts in a row. This seems like the perfect situation for NYR:

1. One of the best goaltenders of this generation getting some rest and finding his groove
2. Offering Raanta some confidence boost and showing that playing well will yield immediate increase in the amount of starts
3. Winning games...

 

[haakon84]

he was never God.

He's been a 1st/2nd team all star ONLY TWICE.

top 3 All-star selection only 3 times in his career.

 

[Crease]

he was never God.

He's been a 1st/2nd team all star ONLY TWICE.

top 3 All-star selection only 3 times in his career.

Hank is an interesting case. He never had an all-time peak. But he had a fantastic prime and all-time consistency. He's going into the Hall. For those older than me, who does he compare to? He's Brodeur-lite to me.

 

[Seiza]

he was never God.

He's been a 1st/2nd team all star ONLY TWICE.

top 3 All-star selection only 3 times in his career.

Yeah, because the allstar selection is how you determine the level of a player. Like allstar MVP John Scott.

 

[bmoak]

There've been Lundqvist Watches every year dating back to when Prince Chad Johnson was a Ranger.

 

[haakon84]

Yeah, because the allstar selection is how you determine the level of a player. Like allstar MVP John Scott.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/awards/nhl_all_star.html

EOY All-Star selections. Chosen by Hockey writers. Glenn Sather can't stack the Vezina voting.