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The Post’s Steve Serby spoke with the Rangers goaltender about his midseason injury, last year’s heartbreak, and what it will take for the Blueshirts to bring home the Stanley Cup.
Q: Would you say winning the Cup is an obsession for you?
A: (Laughs) It is on my mind a lot, I’m not gonna lie. I don’t know if it’s an obsession, but when you look at how much time we all put into this, and how much it means — it’s hard not to call it obsessed. That’s why we play. You want to win. I always say it’s about the journey, too. You have to enjoy the regular season, because that’s the biggest part of the season.
Q: What do you remember about the flight home from Los Angeles after the loss to the Kings in the Cup finals?
A: It’s pretty painful. Actually, it’s really painful (chuckles). And when the season ends like that … I don’t know, you feel a loss when the season ends. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose because it’s been so intense for so long. And then you know it’s just over now. And, for a few weeks, you don’t do much. You analyze, you think about what went good and bad. But the flight home was pretty quiet. You didn’t think about just the ending, you did think about all the great moments we had as well.
Q: How long did it take you to get over that loss?
A: I can still until this day think about it and get upset (chuckles). And I think I always will — if you’re that close. It doesn’t matter if it’s five years from now or not, you will always remember it. It will always bother me, but you move on.
Q: By the same token, it also drives you, correct?
A: Exactly. It gives you inspiration. Because you want to be there again, you want to get another chance to play there, but … you know, winning the first round, or the third round, I think is as hard, ’cause the teams now are so equal.
Q: What unique trait does this Rangers team have that maybe other Rangers teams have not had?
A: I think relying on more than just one line, or a few guys. I feel like we have a lot of different players who can be the difference in important situations. Obviously, [Rick] Nash has played a huge role for us this year, but I also feel like, you know, [Derick] Brassard, [Mats] Zuccarello, Step [Derek Stepan], we have some D-men playing the big roles. I just feel like we have more guys that can be the difference, and that’s huge when you first of all play 82 games regular season, but also in the playoffs when you do have a lot of tense games.
Q: Is this one of the closest teams — or the closest — you’ve been on?
A: Yeah, we’re a tight group for sure. A lot of guys have been here enough for a while, we know each other really well. You know what to expect from each other, what to expect from coaches. And then the new guys that have been coming in, they’re adjusting really well. So it’s a great group to be around. The best part, I think, though, is that guys want to win. That’s why I think we’re being consistent this year; guys are ready to push themselves. That’s something that I look for even more than being a tight group.
Q: Do you think that losing in the finals last year increased the hunger of the group?
A: I hope so. Being that close was bittersweet. It was such a great experience. Of course it was disappointing not to win, and also something that motivates you to try even harder to get there again and try to go all the way.
Q: At the start of training camp, were the sacrifices and price you have to pay to get where you want to go addressed?
A: I think we addressed that starting a new season, whatever happened, happened, you have to move on. You can’t expect to get any freebies because you had a good year before, you have to start over, really. You can’t think about the playoffs when you start a new season. I think that was the biggest thing — start it over and get a good start and then we build off of that. And then when we get to the playoffs, that’s when you refocus and get ready for that challenge.
Q: Do you feel this is your best chance to win a Cup since you’ve been in New York?
A: I felt we had a pretty good chance [in 2012], but we didn’t really play for a full potential against the Devils in the conference final. And then last year, obviously, we were really close. Now it’s about getting everything to work here when it comes down to it. I’m excited about this group though, yeah, I’m really excited because what I see, the mentality, the quality of the players, and the way they focus. We’re on the same page.
Q: Is the mentality of this group right now Stanley Cup-Or-Bust?
A: I still feel like the Stanley Cup is far away, I’m just focusing on this first round, that’s where my head is at, and then you keep on moving on. To judge it before you even start is kinda hard. But the goal is to win, no question.
Q: You’ve been in New York when the Giants have won championships and the Yankees won one: what have you noticed about the way New York celebrates winners?
A: It is a great sports town, but it just goes to another level when things get hot. When you get closer towards the end in the playoffs, or each round, it just gets more and more intense, and people really show their support. It was really cool to be a part of that last year. And I’ve experienced a lot of years in the playoffs. For each round, you can just feel more and more people getting involved. I’ve seen a lot of images from ‘94, and what that was like, and I see it every day at the Training Center, so that’s something that we’d [like to] be part of as well.
Q: What was going on in your life in 1994?
A: 1994, I was 12 years old, and the biggest memory I have from ’94 was Sweden won its first Olympic gold in hockey and Peter Forsberg scored in the Final on a shootout goal. Hockey was my life. My biggest dream was to play for the National team and make it to the NHL.
Q: Have you spoken to Mark Messier and Mike Richter about what it meant to them to win a Cup?
A: We talked about a lot of different things, you run into those guys, it’s just fun to hear their stories. Also to hear about the game itself, how it was played. It’s [21] years ago now, it’s a different game. You know, it changed, I think, their life a lot, and the organization. It’s something that you will remember and bring with you for the rest of your life.
Q: How does winning a Cup affect a great player’s legacy?
A: I’m not sure I’m the right guy to answer that (laughs), but I think it all depends on the circumstances too, on the team, on the era, there’s a lot of things that go into winning. It’s one thing if you play tennis or golf — it’s just up to you. But when you play a team sport, there’s so many things that need to work at the same time for you to have success.
Q: Why do you enjoy — I don’t know if enjoy is the right word — having the hopes and the dreams of Rangers fans on your shoulders?
A: (Laughs) It’s so special to play in New York because there’s so many people that care about it. It just adds to the overall experience, to play in a city where it’s exciting, and fans want to win so badly. I grew up being a huge hockey fan, and watching my team play, I was always nervous in the playoffs. I know how they feel — you can’t control anything as a fan, you can just hope. And that’s sometimes scary, but it’s also so rewarding when you win. It is really a roller coaster of emotion.
Q: Does your routine change at all during the playoffs?
A: No. My preparation doesn’t change from regular season to playoffs. You might feel more nervous, you might be more excited, but you try not to change too much. You want to feel comfortable. You don’t want to feel like you’re playing a different game. ’cause it’s not. It’s still the same game, even though it might be a little more intense.
Q: What role can Rangers fans play during the playoffs?
A: Just be loud and supportive, that’s more than enough. You feel that, you can feel that already in warmups if they’re goin’. Then when the game starts, it’s also tough for the opposing team when they feel like the building [is rockin’].
Q: How do you deal with the stress and the pressure away from the ice?
A: I try to get away from the game. You try not to think too much, because you need to save energy so … spend time with family and friends, and do something else. So when you do come to the rink, you’re recharged. That sometimes is easier when you play more in the playoffs.
Q: How scary was your (sprained blood vessel) injury, and because of the time you missed, could that be a blessing in disguise as far as you being rested?
A: The injury itself was scary, and I was shocked when they told me exactly what happened, and what COULD have happened, with some bad luck. That was a little scary that things could have gone really bad. But then, with all the support I got from the organization, and all the doctors, I felt like I was in good hands. And then [it was] pretty much what they told me from the get-go — 4-6 weeks you will see improvements, and that’s pretty much what happened. I mentally kinda just told myself this is a good thing, rest your body and mentally, and get ready for hopefully a long spring here. That was my mindset being away from the game — but it was tough, it was really tough not to play for two months.
Q: What was the scariest thing that the doctors told you could have happened?
A: When the blood vessel got damaged there, if I got another hit there before we picked it up, I could have internal bleeding and a stroke, and my life could have been a lot different after that. When they told me you have to rest for 4-6 weeks, at least, then that’s what I realized I had to do.
Q: Has fatherhood changed you in any way?
A: I thinks it helps give me perspective. Hockey is a huge part of my life, and what I love to do, buy there’s also another side of me. When I was younger, it was all about hockey, but now having a family, and coming back to get a break from the game, you need that to save energy and to be prepared for the next game. It actually helps me to relax sometimes, to have a family and to focus on them. It’s not hockey 24-7, even though it’s hard during the playoffs, because you eat and you sleep and you focus and you’re preparing, you play the game, and then you start over, and that’s what you do for hopefully two months.
Q: Your daughters are how old?
A: One daughter’s 2 1/2 , and one daughter’s three weeks.
Q: So you’ve mastered the art of changing diapers, I assume.
A: (Laughs) Yeah, well, it’s a little curve ball now, getting a second one. It’s interesting to see the older one with the little one, and how they’re interacting and stuff like that, I really enjoy it.
Q: Do you think you would ever wear one of Clyde Frazier’s outfits?
A: (Laughs) You never know! I must say, he has a lot of imagination. You need that to come up with all those outfits. I’m impressed by that, how he comes up with everything. I think that’s cool.
Q: 25 words or less: Kevin Hayes?
A: Funny guy … great hockey sense… strong on the puck, reminds me of [Jaromir’ Jagr a little bit, the way he protects the puck and sees the game.
Q: Marty St. Louis?
A: Very nice human being. Just a true pro, I feel like the way he prepares, plays the game, you can learn a lot just by being around him, I think. And he shows also the younger guys why he’s still in the league. I mean, he’s getting up there age-wise [39], but just the way he competes at practice to prepare himself shows why he’s still playing so well.
Q: Rick Nash?
A: So strong on the puck, and smart player. He gets a lot of credit for scoring a lot of goals, but just defensive plays he’s making, and sacrifice for the team, that’s something that really impresses me and stands out. I knew the skill he had, but the way he plays both ends of the ice is something that I really respect and love about his game.
Q: Chris Kreider?
A: Probably one of the strongest guys I’ve ever played with. So fast, great skater. Probably the hardest wrist shot I ever faced. Probably hurt me a couple of times a week in practice with his wrist shot (laughs). That’s impressive, to see the amount of power that’s behind that guy.
Q: Captain Ryan McDonagh?
A: Great skater. Very smooth on the ice, the way he sees the game, and extremely good offensively and defensively. I feel like he’s really growing into his role as a captain — obviously, it’s a lot of pressure to be the Captain in New York, but I think he’s doing a great job.
Q: Marc Staal and Dan Girardi?
A: I’ve played with them for a long time now. They’re funny guys, and off the ice, very relaxed, but when it comes to the ice they’re very competitive. Girardi, he will do anything to block a shot and then sacrifice his body for the team, which is just amazing to watch. And Staal is so smart with his placement on the ice. That’s really what stands out with his game, his smartness, being in the right place always.
Q: Derek Stepan?
A: Extremely smart two-way player. I feel like he makes things look easier than they really are. There’s battles, and he just gets the puck. There’s a certain flow to the game on his line when he plays, just the way he reads the play and he comes into the situations the right way. It’s been fun to watch him grow as a player I mean, he started with a hat trick in his first game, so I don’t know if he can improve on that (chuckles). I think he’s a very mature player for his age.
Q: Cam Talbot?
A: Hard worker. Great goalie, great skill. I think he’s been working really hard ever since he got here to improve everything about his game, and you’re seeing results of that. He’s a great guy, too.
Q: Alain Vigneault?
A: He shows patience in tough situations, which I think helps the team when you’re under stress. Pretty funny, too.
Q: Why is the NYC Fire Dept. such an important cause for you?A: Well I think with the project that we did, it was just fun to include a group of people that means so much to New York.
Part of the whole project was to have people that had some sort of connection with the city.
Q: Your surprise visit to the boy John Hudson Dilgen at Steiner’s who has Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a terrible skin disorder?
A: I met John a couple of times. I met him in the locker room as well. He’s just a great kid — extremely strong, Now having kids too, and not only what he goes through, but his siblings and his parents, you know, it’s heartbreaking. But it’s also impressive to see how he deals with it. It’s fun when you as an athlete can meet them and give them some stuff and cheer them up. It was a fun afternoon for me with him, but it’s also tough to see what he has to go through.
Q: He’ll be your biggest fan during the playoffs, right?
A: He’s a big fan, and I appreciate his support. When I was out, I got a card actually sent to the rink from him, saying that he was thinking of me, and wished me all the best. I thought that was just the best thing ever.
Q: Best item at your popular Tribeca restaurant, Tiny’s?
A: I love the chicken sandwich for lunch. That’s probably my “go to.”
Q: How do you deal with the privacy issue?
A: There’s so many people that come into New York, and they don’t follow hockey … you blend in pretty good. I don’t see it as a problem, people are very supportive and happy if they do recognize me. It’s something that I learned to live with, but I feel also I can relax a lot more here than when I go back to Sweden during the summer.
Q: Athletes in other sports you admire?
A: I’ve been a huge Roger Federer fan for a lot of years, just the way he plays the game, and the way he handles himself on and off the court.
Q: New York athletes?
A: Jeter retired, but just his accomplishments obviously speak for itself. I put him up there with Federer, just the way he handles himself.
Q: You’ve got a chance to follow Jeter’s path.
A: That’s a tough path (chuckles) to follow after all his accomplishments, but I’ve been in New York now for 10 years, and it’s been a great journey for me. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years, but it’s been so much fun to be part of this city and organization and the success over the last few years, but hopefully the best is still ahead of us here.
Q: What message would you want to send to Rangers fans as you begin this Cup quest?
A: All I can say is the season so far has been great. Right now, we’re just gonna do everything we can to prepare ourselves for another great run. There’s a lot of work ahead, and a lot of things need to go our way for us to have success, but I believe in this team, I think we’re all believing what we have here, and hopefully the fans feel the same way, and with their support, I hope this is gonna be a great spring.
Q: There’s a belief on this team that you can do it, right?
A: Absolutely. It starts with that, you have to believe it, you have to see it happening before it happens. That’s important.
http://nypost.com/2015/04/14/henrik-lundqvist-on-the-pain-of-losing-stanley-cup-and-much-more/
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