Not so good news for the New York Rangers emerged Saturday, when the team revealed that starting goaltender, and cornerstone of the team, Henrik Lundqvist would be sidelined for two-to-three weeks due to a lower-body injury. The injury occurred sometime this past week. The actual injury has not been revealed and remains undisclosed. To fill the vacant goalie position, Antti Raanta will fill in as starter and Magnus Hellberg has been called up from the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate- the Hartford Wolf Pack.
OFFICIAL: #NYR Henrik Lundqvist will be out 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 11, 2017
New York Rangers Lose Henrik Lundqvist for 2-3 Weeks
Lundqvist has been hot as of late. He is 30-17-2 this season. He also has a 2.65 goals against average and a 913 save percentage. Lundqvist had an early start to the 2016-17 NHL season with the World Cup. Earlier this season, he appeared to be showing his age (he recently turned 35). However, the “King” has slowly crept back to his normal self, and just in time for the playoffs. But…scratch that.
With Lundqvist now out for between two and three weeks, he will be returning the week just before the end of the regular season. This should give him just a few games to get back into playoff shape. Depending on what exactly this injury is, Lundqvist may be able to just jump right back in and be okay. It may also take him some time to get back into the swing of things. With the undisclosed injury, that question is hard to answer.
The Rangers do not have much to worry about when it comes to their goaltending situation. Antti Raanta will be assuming the role of starter in Henrik’s absence. Raanta has seen a heavier workload this season. He has gone 13-6-0 with a 2.32 goals against and a .922 save percentage with three shutouts. Backing up Raanta is Hellberg. He has been with the Wolf Pack this season. Hellberg has posted an 11-11-5 record with a 2.91 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.
The Rangers, who are 43-23-2 this season, currently hang on to the East’s top wild card slot. They have 14 games remaining this season before the beginning of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, at which time the team hopes Lundqvist will be back and ready to go.
Main Photo:
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers takes a break during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
