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.500 Hockey: The New Norm
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Saturday, November 30, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
How Henrik Lundqvist Became a Modern Day Joe Namath
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In the rink, Henrik Lundqvist, the Swedish-born goaltender for the New York Rangers, is a hulking presence, athletically and aggressively swatting away pucks with his stick, pads, skates and, yes, sometimes even his mask. On a somewhat offensively challenged team, the 31-year-old–known as “King Henrik” to local fans–keeps the Rangers competitive on most nights with his “butterfly” style of goaltending, which has earned him an Olympic gold medal (for Sweden in the 2006 Turin games), seven straight team Most Valuable Player awards and the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League’s top goaltender, in 2012.
Off the ice, though, Lundqvist–slim and possessed of blue eyes, a touch of Viggo Mortensen scruff and a hair-trigger grin–doesn’t quite fit the popular notion of how a hockey player is supposed to comport himself. He has taken well to the various cultural diversions of New York City, where he has now lived for eight years. (He and his wife and one-year-old daughter have an apartment not far from Madison Square Garden.) “What I love about the city is that it’s the opposite of the intense focus of a hockey game,” he says. Two years ago, he and a group of friends opened Tiny’s & The Bar Upstairs, a restaurant in Tribeca. He has also jammed on the guitar with fellow New York sports legend John McEnroe.
But he’s made his biggest mark off the ice in the fashion world, assuming a throne once occupied by Joe Namath and Walt Frazier. He’s attended fashion shows and models for his own Crown Collection, a clothing line that supports the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a charity for special-needs children. Of his own fashion sense, Lundqvist says it took time to develop: “I made a lot of mistakes along the way. “His fashion popularity, he says, is easy to explain. “When you’re a hockey player, if you make any effort to dress nicely, you, um, stand out a bit.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/monteburke/2013/11/26/how-the-new-york-rangers-henrik-lundqvist-became-a-modern-day-joe-namath/
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Henrik Lundqvist Talks Charlise, the Olympics and More in Swedish Interview From Beginning of Season
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31 -year-old Henke Lundqvist is nowadays the team's obvious star and Radiosporten hits him when his New York Rangers training a Sunday in Los Angeles, just before their second match of the season.
Lundqvist praises new Jesper Fixed that now makes them four Swedes at NY Rangers (although injured Carl Hagelin is not on the trip) . He likes to have the Swedes around him. He also became a father to daughter Charlise and having children has partly changed Henkes views on hockey and more.
- Of course you get more perspective on things . It is clear that hockey still is incredibly important and winning is incredibly important. But in some situations you do not have time to think about hockey and it can be good, says Lundqvist and adds:
- Like when you get home and dwell on a bad game and then you have to focus on something else and want to focus on something else. Then one's own children naturligvtis quite natural to focus on .
Henry does not usually seem like a sore loser who blames others , but as a man who really seem to suffer from losing .
Is that so?
- Yes , that's true enough. I'm pretty self-critical and the losses so it takes it quite personally , especially as a goalkeeper , it is quite easy to see , I had conceded less goals we had won after all .
- As you walk to himself pretty much . Then we suppose to be quite healthy in their thoughts after match. What was it that was good ? What was it that was so good? It's still a team sport so you can not blame yourself too much. But anyway, I will be sorely disappointed when we lose .
After the game against the Los Angeles avoid Henke be bitter . Win with 3-1 and bunch of journalists gather around goalie.
Everyone talks about Quicks own goal to 3-1 and Henke lide with him, but is self- satisfied . He still seems almost emotionally exhausted after the game but claims he is happy after this victory and winning in general.
- Yes , it's 180 degrees equally unhappy man is losing , as lucky you are to win . It is in this way to build confidence. You could play well and do good things , but you lose so it is always a hassle, and it's hard to be positive.
He is very positive when talking about Charlise - his " Sweet child of mine " ( Lundqvist performed this song on guitar with Jimmy Fallon ) - so far only been to win matches.
- Live handles herself very well, says Lundqvist.
Charlise have maybe a tennis career ahead of her .
- She's got a tennis racket as she goes around and plays with and she thinks it 's fun .
Lundqvist also has a vague hope that she will be interested in music .
- It would be nice if she could sing. Though it would be a miracle , because neither I nor my wife can sing ... at all.
Lundqvist has a couple of other things to ponder on or maybe try not to dwell on right now. This season is interrupted by an OS.
How much are you thinking of that?
- OS will fester in the back of the head . It will have some thoughts now and then about how it will be and how it will look and expectations for himself and the team and all that. But then you are very much focused on the here and now and it's the only thing you can do.
- To get to the Olympics with great confidence so you must focus on Rangers and your own game.
The other big issue is the future of Henke who want to play for long. Up to eight years.
Lundqvist is in his last year of his current contract with the Rangers and he can not talk more about the possible future contract ( which is not yet clear).
- No. I've said ... we 've had a couple of months here in the summer that we 've been working on it . So now I want to put that aside and focus on the game here and then we'll see when something happens .
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2688&grupp=9007&artikel=5668657
Friday, November 22, 2013
Henrik Lundqvist Post-Game Video Interview; Made Season High in Saves; Gets First Assist of Season
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Henrik Lundqvist made a season-high, 41 saves, including 23 in the first period, and tallied a power play assist to improve to 7-9-0 overall with a 3-4-0 mark on the road this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 23 saves in the first established a career-high for saves in a single period, breaking his previous career-high of 20 saves in a period (Dec. 29, 2010 vs. NJD, Second Period; Apr. 6, 2013 vs. CAR, Third Period).
- Lundqvist has now held opponents to two or fewer goals in 10 of his 16 starts, including eight of his last 10 games since returning from injury in the home opener on Oct. 28 vs. Montreal. Lundqvist is 5-5-0 with a 1.71 goals against average, .940 save percentage, and one shutout in his last 10 games since returning.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
GQ Magazine Names Henrik Lundqvist One of the Most Stylish Athletes of 2013
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3. Henrik Lundqvist
"King Henrik" may be hockey's greatest goalkeep in action, but there's nothing safe about the Swede's style choices. Lundqvist's ever-evolving wardrobe off the ice runs the gamut from fashion forward Calvin Klein Collection gear to the most proper Hugo Boss black tie rigs, both pulled off with equal nonchalance. And any mention of Lundqvist's style wouldn't be complete without talking about that hair.
http://www.gq.com/sports-list/20-most-stylish-athletes-of-2013/18?intcid=next
Henrik Lundqvist to be NHL Reality TV Star
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Now comes "NHL Revealed: A Season Like No Other," announced in conjunction on Monday by the league, the NHL Players’ Association, the NBC Sports Network and CBC in Canada, the two outlets that will broadcast the seven-part behind-the-scenes series starting in mid-January.
This reality series will focus on two dozen NHL players across nine teams – including the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist and Islanders captain John Tavares – as they play in outdoor games, then go on to the Olympics.
The weekly show will debut on NBCSN on Jan. 22 and continue through the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
The Rangers play twice this season at Yankee Stadium, facing the Devils at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 26 and then Tavares’ Islanders three days later at 7:30 p.m.
Lundqvist won’t be the only Ranger to be followed – the team expects at least one more player to be featured, think a past Olympian such as Rick Nash or Brad Richards – and the organization is already comfortable with the process. They and the Flyers were the subjects of "24/7" as part of the Rangers’ 3-2 win on Jan. 2, 2012 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/232453381_Gross__Rangers__Henrik_Lundqvist_to_be_NHL_reality_TV_star.html?page=all
Monday, November 18, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The Lundqvist vs. Brodeur Rivalry Continues Tonight
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It looked as if it was finally over, but hockey’s best and longest running goaltender rivalry is back. Better yet, it now has a bit of an edge.
Martin Brodeur of the Devils and Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers will meet in a regular-season game for the 38th time Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, renewing for a ninth season an often spectacular duel of great neighboring goalies.
When the two teams met for the first time this season, on Oct. 19, it seemed as if their personal contest might be finished. That night, in Newark, Brodeur, 41, sat on the bench as Cory Schneider shut out the Rangers, 4-0. It was the first time a healthy Brodeur had missed a Devils-Rangers game since 1993. Not long after, Brodeur said Schneider was “in the net now to stay,” sounding like a man who saw retirement looming.
Brodeur was slumping at the time and so was Lundqvist. But the two goalies are again riding hot streaks. So, after the Rangers practiced on Monday and Lundqvist answered a question about the Devils’ Jaromir Jagr with warm praise, he was asked how he felt about facing Brodeur again.
“We’ll see,” Lundqvist said, adopting a more standard tone. “He’s been playing well. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
That brief answer from Lundqvist, who is usually more reflective and discursive in what he says, may be a reflection of some cross-river sniping that he and Brodeur engaged in during training camp in September.
The more chatty Brodeur started it when he observed that new rules shortening leg pads by two inches might affect some goaltenders more than others.
“There’s goalies — I won’t name names, but they’re not too far — they have different padding that it’s not about protection,” Brodeur said, and it was pretty clear he was talking about Lundqvist.
“I know I’m ‘not too far,’ but I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Lundqvist said in response.
That barbed exchange receded into the background when both teams started the season terribly: the Rangers at 2-6 and the Devils at 0-4-3.
Lundqvist and Brodeur were awful, too. In his first eight games, Lundqvist was 2-5 with an .895 save percentage; Brodeur was 1-2-2 with an .871 save percentage.
But as their teams revived, so did they. The Rangers entered Tuesday’s game at 9-8, hoping to climb into second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils were at 5-7-5, hoping to jump into fourth.
In the five games he played leading up to Tuesday, Lundqvist was 4-1 with a .949 save percentage — back in the form that won him the Vezina Trophy two seasons ago and made him a Vezina finalist last season.
Brodeur was even better. Playing behind the kind of stingy defense that helped him and the Devils win three Stanley Cups from 1995 to 2003, he came into Tuesday’s game with back-to-back shutouts. Going back four games, he had a 3-1 record and a .973 save percentage.
Given that kind of work from Brodeur, Devils Coach Peter DeBoer said Monday that the decision to start Brodeur again did not take “a ton of thought.”
And so the rivalry will be renewed: Brodeur, the future Hall of Famer who has repeatedly engraved his name in the N.H.L. record book, versus the 31-year-old Lundqvist, hockey’s most consistently excellent goalie.
Lundqvist has the advantage in the 37 regular-season games they have faced each other, all with the Rangers and Devils.
Lundqvist is 24-8-5 with a 1.65 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage and 5 shutouts.
Brodeur is 13-19-5 with a 2.22 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and 3 shutouts.
In shootouts, each goalie is 4-4.
Maybe it is good that Brodeur and Lundqvist will be at opposite ends of the ice at the Garden; that will keep them from inspecting each other’s pads and trading more barbs. But despite whatever enmity might now exist between Brodeur and Lundqvist, the fans at the Garden will be the lucky ones: they will see two great goalies, neighbors and rivals, matching their remarkable skills one more time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/13/sports/hockey/devils-and-rangers-rival-goalies-ready-for-a-revival.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
Monday, November 11, 2013
Martin Biron Says He Was Hernik Lundqvist's "Wife Away From Home...."
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Martin Biron is coming back...just not as a player. Biron was hired by MSG Network to be a studio analyst for select games this season. Today in an interview with the press promoting his new gig, he dropped this gem of a quote about he and Henrik's friendship:
Former #NYR goalie Martin Biron on Henrik Lundqvist's shopping experiences: "I was kind of his wife away from home in the locker room."
— Sean Hartnett (@HartnettHockey) November 11, 2013
Biron said that Henrik Lundqvist took him on a three or four hour shopping trip in Anaheim. Biron: "It was so funny going to every store."
— Sean Hartnett (@HartnettHockey) November 11, 2013
Here's Henrik's reaction to Biron's new job:
The Rangers seemed to be happy about the announcement, none more so than Henrik Lundqvist, who smiled ear-to-ear when asked about his former backup's new job.
"It's a good pickup for MSG," Lundqvist said. "He's very confident and comfortable in front of the camera, so good for him. I'm happy that he, right away, seems to have found something he really enjoys. He's going to be good."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/biron-trades-pads-msg-mike-article-1.1513395#ixzz2kONBH24F
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Henrik Lundqvist Says This Year Has Been the "Hardest I've Been Through"; Thinks Vigneault is a Good Coach
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Lundqvist: " Hardest I 've been through "
Henrik Lundqvist is in 34th place in the league goalie in the NHL and New York Rangers are a bottenlag .
So I had to take to New York to find out what it's all about.
Got to see Lundqvist both shutouts and scold teammates .
And the answer is - no!
We need not be concerned about the Olympics .
Rangers started the season with nine straight away games and with several key players injured . When Anaheim ran over Rangers 6-0 I found a reader comment on the New York Post website, where a Rangers supporter wrote:
"With Tortorella as coach blockade Rangers shoots the puck so not reached Suck Qvist . Now we get to see the real Lundqvist ."
He hailed as King Henry was called suddenly " Suck Qvist ." By its own supporters .
Rangers are 22th overall in the league and Lundqvist in 34th place in the keeper league in terms of save percentage .
But just calm .
fans' love
I saw the Rangers beat Buffalo and Carolina before a crowd in Madison Square Garden which was again acclaimed King.
Even after a nil against Carolina , he received the fans' love.
- Heen - RIIK , Heen - RIIK , shouted hard New Yorkers , so you almost got a little emotional.
We got to see " the real Lundqvist" - and even the worst whining nail must have been satisfied.
- This is the toughest start I have experienced - both for me personally and for the team - then I got to the NHL. Normally, it can be the keeper who saves a team that has a tough time , but now both the goalkeeper and the team looked for the form simultaneously. I have not been bad , but I have not been good enough for us to win more games , Henrik said to me afterwards.
The fans at Madison Square Garden can become enraged at his own team and Henrik Lundqvist , who is in his ninth season at the club , heard when it started rumbling in the stands.
- Have you been booed in the Garden?
- Well, not the entire hall. A little scream , it has been well , I have heard a few times and it's not as fun. But while this is the way our fans are . This is New York, it's either or . Our fans are passionate . That's why I love to play the part . It's the allure of New York. And when you have the fans behind them , it's fantastic .
" Tortorella - angry"
Rangers has famously changed coach from the savage John Tortorella to the more quite still Alain Vigneault .
- Vigneault is a good coach. He has shown great patience and know that this is a process. The new game system has not made it different for me and my game. There is more that we'll find the timing of the game, we 've all got to work hard to find the structure of the game. Compared with the beginning of the season , we are much better now. We begin to find your way in the game more and more.
Henrik Lundqvist himself can get angry too.
John Tortorella , angry , even .
It happened twice when I was in New York.
During the game against Buffalo was Michael Del Zotto as careless with the puck and got a hairdryer by Lundqvist on the ice.
- What did you say to him , I asked after the game.
- Haha . Then we had started to play harder and I reminded him that we have to play easier.
- You were angry?
- No, then.
- You were given , it appeared from top press box .
- Yeah, I guess I was not completely satisfied. It's much adrenaline out there and we should never bid on anything .
Yelled the ice
In the next game , it was JT Miller, who was reviled for ice.
- Well, then burned it , admitted Henke afterwards.
As good as Henrik Lundqvist has been for this New York Rangers for so long - and as good as he still is , so I understand that it boils over sometimes when he does not get better help.
Sometimes I wish that more people got to see Henry when he trains in a small training hall in the suburbs , far beyond the glamor and cool Manhattan. How careful he is, how he hates to admit pucks on training, how he after a Carl Hagelin target slowly turns towards the goal cage and then slams the big goal stick it in the net .
Right after that , he made several rescues of absolute world class.
- I'm working hard every day to get better. There are always details to work with, he told me after practice .
Located beneath the Enroth
- You know how it's going when you've met Jhonas Enroth in NHL ?
- Well, we have been well met a few times ...
- I've checked . He's 2-0 against you.
Henry did not look amused .
- Oh, hell .
- And Enroth was very good in the World Cup , I continued.
- He's good in the NHL as well, he has proved what class he is in this league . When he has been playing , he has shown that he is very good and stable. There is competition in the goalkeeper area in the Three Crowns , so shall it be also . I take nothing for granted. It's important to show what can be on the ice , said Henry .
Then he smiled .
And soon we will see " the real Lundqvist" in Tre Kronor again .
Just like we had to do in Turin.
http://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/nhl/lundqvist-tuffaste-jag-har-varit-med-om/
Are These Henrik Lundqvist's Stadium Series Pads? (Part 2)
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According to the tsr_hockey Instagram account these pads were made by Bauer for Henrik:
The caption reads:
Pads, glove and blocker that @Bauerhockey made up for Lundqvist for the outdoor game. I don't think he wore them, still sick pads!!!
These pads clearly feature Yankees pinstripes. Could these be Henrik's pads for at least one of the upcoming Stadium Series games at Yankee Stadium? Personally as a Yankees fan, I hope they are! What do you all think?
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Henrik Lundqvist Post-Game Video Interview; Records 47th Career Shutout
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Henrik Lundqvist turned aside all 29 shots faced to post his second shutout of the season, and the 47th shutout of his career. He improved to 3-5-0 overall, including a 1-1-0 mark at home this season. Lundqvist has posted a shutout in two of his last four appearances, and is 2-2-0 with a 1.52 goals against average and .938 save percentage over the span.
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