Fast start has Rangers' Lundqvist leading Vezina race

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New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault challenged his No. 1 goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, to get off to a better start this season after struggling early the past few years, and "The King" has responded by restaking his claim as the NHL's best.

After adjusting his preseason approach to focus more on technique and position-specific drills with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire, Lundqvist has emerged as the early favorite to win his second Vezina Trophy as the League's top goaltender by backstopping the Rangers to the top spot in the Eastern Conference after a 31-save shutout of the Nashville Predators on Monday.

Following a 5-1 loss against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, Lundqvist sits atop the NHL in goals-against average (1.94) and save percentage (.939); his 12 wins are second to the Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby, who has 13.

For those wondering if Lundqvist is sheltered behind a good team playing well defensively, he also leads NHL starters with an adjusted 5-on-5 save percentage of .954, according to war-on-ice.com, a measurement that weighs shot quality based on the distance of the shots a goalie faces.
"He's our best player, there's no doubt," Vigneault recently told The New York Times.

Lundqvist's spot atop the Vezina Trophy race is aided in part by the lower-body injury that kept preseason favorite and reigning winner Carey Price out of action for nine games, but even a healthy Price would have had a hard time staying ahead the way Lundqvist has played through the first six-plus weeks of the regular season. So what has changed for Lundqvist this season compared to the past few, when he didn't seem to find his top form until sometime in December?

In addition to altering the preseason focus with an eye toward a better start, Lundqvist has talked about the benefit of new skates that allow him to more easily grab an edge from his low, wide stance. But the bigger difference, apart from what he's described as a more relaxed mindset, may be where those skates are taking him.

Long known for deeper positioning and a goal line-out approach, Lundqvist has been spotted well beyond the edges of his crease more often to start the season, whether it's taking ice early and retreating with an odd-man rush, or charging out harder from the blue ice when he reads an open look. Although that has at times left him diving back across the crease Superman-style on a handful of highlight-reel saves, Lundqvist believes he's better for it.

"I think a lot of it is just trusting your instincts," Lundqvist told the New York Daily News after the game Monday. "If you look at my game this year, I'm challenging a little bit more, trusting my instincts, and we talked about going into this season to be a bit more aggressive. Just mentally I feel I'm way more relaxed, my focus."





http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=789635

Rangers' Lundqvist Early Favorite for Hart Trophy

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New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault put the pressure on goalie Henrik Lundqvist in their exit meeting after last season by telling him to be prepared to be better at the start of the season. It was a message based on Lundqvist's recent history of starting poorly.

Lundqvist has done better than just respond to Vigneault; he's put himself on pace to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player. He is off to arguably the best start of his 11-season career with 12 wins, a 1.94 goals-against average and .939 save percentage through 18 games.

He is first in the NHL in GAA and save percentage among goalies who have appeared in six or more games.

Lundqvist's save percentage is the best he has ever had through the first 18 games of a season. His win total is tied for the best he's ever had through 18 games. It's also just the third time in his 11 seasons that he has a sub-2.00 GAA through 18 games.

By comparison, Lundqvist was 9-6-3 with a 2.57 GAA and .911 save percentage through 18 games last season. He was 7-10-0 with a 2.51 GAA and .917 save percentage through 18 appearances at the start of the 2013-14 season.

"We count on him to be our best player," Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said. "And I think we've leaned on him a little more heavily than we have in the past few seasons. He's been huge for us."

A big part of why he's been so good is he took Vigneault's message at the end of last season as both a challenge and an opportunity to reassess his mental approach.

In his analysis, Lundqvist discovered that he wasn't coming into training camp with the proper focus. He realized he was waiting until the start of the regular season to begin trying to find his game when he should have been doing that in camp. He also discovered he is at his best when he finds the balance between being intensely competitive and relaxed.

Together with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire, Lundqvist put together a schedule he felt would give him the best chance to be at his best at the start of the season. It's working about as well as anyone could have hoped.

Lundqvist even admits he's playing the best hockey of his career.

"I think so, just because of the way I feel," Lundqvist said. "I'm more relaxed this year. I've always been intense. I've tried to take that down a notch just to be more aware. I think the awareness has been the best part of my game so far. I try to be relaxed, but at the same time have that compete level that I need."

He has needed his focus because the Rangers are, as Staal said, relying heavily on Lundqvist to win games.

New York is tied for 26th in the League in shots on goal allowed per game (31.4) and 28th in shot attempts percentage (45.88). They're also last in the League in 5-on-5 scoring chance differential (minus-77), according to war-on-ice.com.

"Goaltending is a big part of their success," Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. "Lundqvist probably is playing the best hockey of his career."

Therrien's opinion on this is interesting because what Lundqvist is doing for the Rangers so far this season is quite similar to what Carey Price did for the Canadiens last season.

Price made up for Montreal's deficiencies in shots on goal against (30.1 per game), puck possession (48.50 SAT%) and 5-on-5 scoring chance differential (minus-116) by finishing first among goalies with 30 or more appearances with a 1.96 GAA and .933 save percentage.

Behind Price, who won 44 games, the Canadiens finished first in the Atlantic Division with 110 points. It was no surprise that Price cleaned up at the 2015 NHL Awards by winning the Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and the William M. Jennings Trophy.

If the status quo remains for Lundqvist and the Rangers, he'll be the big winner at the 2016 NHL Awards.

"I haven't seen every game, but the thing that I saw is Lundqvist is a big difference every night," Therrien said.


http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=789841

Berg & Meltzer Embarrassing Interview with Henrik Lundqvist

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New Henrik Lundqvist La Presse Article: "Henrik is not a simple hockey player"

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NEW YORK - If Carey Price is seen as the body and soul of the Canadian, Henrik Lundqvist is also essential to the success of the New York Rangers. But that's where the comparisons between the two guards stop.

The first is of discrete nature. His contacts with the media seem increasingly reduced. The attention he receives as the star of a true Montreal institution, he would without.

The second chasing the spotlight. His personal website published an article recounting his best five appearances on the cover of a magazine; four magazines were not even sports publications! He played guitar on the show Jimmy Fallon and more recently, he stopped the pumpkin pies the famous host threw at him with a hockey stick.

Let's not imagine that Carey Price on the set of Éric Salvail doing antics with the facilitator.

If they sought equivalent, should instead turn to PK Subban. "It is important to clear his head. What better way than to build your own brand? "Said defender Canadiens.

THE ESSENCE OF NEW YORK

"Henrik is not a simple hockey player. This is a celebrity, "said John Rosasco, vice president of public relations Rangers, which must filter a" considerable "number of requests for his player.

Lundqvist is notably appeared on the cover of Gotham Magazine and a catalog of Bloomingdale's chain. Tag Heuer has teamed up with him to create a watch. Vanity Fair has appointed two consecutive years, among the best-dressed men. Head & Shoulders has chosen to play in a shampoo advertising in Sweden. He has his own restaurant in TriBeCa, a center of the New York elite.

His personal website presents the headings "Music", "Fashion" and "Crown Collection", his own clothing collection.

Gerald Eskenazi has just written the article about him in Gotham. This venerable journalist began covering the New York Rangers in 1964. He saw snow.

"It is quite ironic. When I started, the general manager and coach of the Rangers, Emile Francis was afraid of Manhattan, says Mr. Eskenazi. According to him, all players could be in Manhattan, it was getting into problems. So he asked the players to live in Long Beach, a remote suburb.

"Then, in the 70s, the owner wanted his players become more integrated in New York. The Rangers, at the time, had nothing in New York. They did not live in Manhattan, they were little Canadians who came from small towns. The owner wanted the players out in the bars around the arena!

"And then I met Henrik Lundqvist, who lives here, who walks with his children in the city, he is well in sight, he is well dressed. He intrigued me. "

When we asked Mr. Eskenazi how it compares Lundqvist on the ascendancy of the metropolis, it responds with names like Mark Messier, Rodrigue Gilbert or even Ron Duguay, another hunk that was in harmony with his adopted city . "But it is not transcended hockey," he recalls.

"Henrik embodies the essence of New York, says Eskenazi. Few athletes live in the island. We have several teams but they do not all play here. The Jets and Giants are in New Jersey. The Rangers players often live in Westchester [near the training center]. Henrik symbolizes the new generation. "

AT A GOOD PLACE

The hockey world has always been a bit chilly to athletes who "stand out". But with his performance on the ice, with its incredible 9 consecutive seasons of 30 wins (and he won 24 during the lockout season in 2013), Lundqvist ensures that its ambitions off the ice are not criticized .

"He's such a good person, it is easy to navigate and he's our best player, launches his head coach Alain Vigneault. He is the image of the New York Rangers.

"He has to spend some money on his clothes ... these are not second-hand business! Vigneault continues, laughing. But in his way of behaving, to walk from the hotel to the arena, to fly, it's as if he was going to work. And that's what I say to the players to dress as if they were at work. "

"I have never had a teammate like him. But even if there are several external projects, its concentration is first on hockey. "

- Derick Brassard

"My focus has always been on hockey, but when you live in New York, you have the chance to explore more things and I like it, says Lundqvist. I also like to get away from hockey, focus on something else. It helps me play better. It gives me energy when I get to the arena and I did not think hockey round the clock, seven days a week.

"Outside of the ice, my biggest project, are my children. I have two and it's been a change in recent years. But New York is a great city. You let yourself be inspired by many different things. "

Former Yankees Derek Jeter definitely comes top of the list when you think athletes who have transcended their sport in New York. Obviously, we must add the name of Lundqvist search.

"In New York, it's very hard for an athlete to stand out because of all the teams that play here, said Gerald Eskenazi. But when you succeed there, your voice is stronger. As Frank Sinatra sang, If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. "

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Henrik Lundqvist Will Never Dive in a Game

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Lundqvist normally doesn't do interviews after games in which he does not play, but was certainly willing on Saturday to defend himself against Julien's comments, which were widely publicized Friday night.

"I'm not talking about him (Julien), but I thought (what he said) was kind of disrespectful," Lundqvist told the Daily News. "I took a really hard hit to the head. There are different angles where you can see the hit. I'm still sore today in the neck, head. For me, diving is not an option. It never has been and it never will be. So that's that."

Marchand's significant contact to Lundqvist's head at 7:59 of the third period was unmistakable, and Marchand's reputation as a dirty player who takes liberties cost him any benefit of the doubt long ago.

Julien had said of Lundqvist: "I know he does some acting on the side, but I don't think it needs to be on the ice." Marchand said that Lundqvist "must have gotten hit with a cement block" and "lightly gets touched and it looks like he got shot."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/vigneault-rips-bruins-coach-acting-dig-lundqvist-article-1.2449215

New Henrik Lundqvist Bloomberg Business Video Interview

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Henrik Lundqvist Wants to Play For Another 7 Years, Was Initially Extremely Uncomfortable With His Mustache

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Henrik Lundqvist: Hockey is not forever

The world's best hockey goalkeeper, New Yorker and a well-known shampoo-face. We have met the "King Henke" in the dressing room in his home arena Madison Square Garden in New York to talk fashion, grooming, and of course hockey.
Martin Hansson met Henrik Lundqvist, New York.


Henrik Lundqvist is one of the world's best hockey players, and the New York Rangers large poster name. At the side of the ice, the Swedish star profile as Head & Shoulders face and a number of other projects - mainly the fronts he lingerie Bread & Boxers he also is a partner in.

- I like to be inspired by different things besides hockey - although it obviously is number one. I always liked different projects whether it is fashion, restaurants or music. To deliver on the ice, I feel I have to do other things to relax. I can not go around thinking about hockey 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, says Henrik Lundqvist

What does a day in New York really like?

- In my free time, I try to spend as much time as I can with the family, pick up and drop at nursery school, meet friends, relax and at the same time focus on myself, says Henke and adds:

- The idea is that I will be 60 matches in order to be fresh for the playoffs so there will be a lot of training and time with the New York Rangers däremellan.NHL said to be the world's toughest hockey league - how psychologically stressful it is to play at such a high level?

- The mental part is incredibly important to me and a great deal that can determine if it goes well or not in a match. The skull steering incredibly much how you focus and handle the press. You have to try to relax and find balance.

So how do you upload before a game?

- When I eat pasta and meat sauce, I have done for nearly ten years so there is nothing to change. It's easy to get in, and it comes to eating plenty of food at lunch, when to play the match in the evening.

How do you see the future?

- Hockey is not forever, I have five years on my contract but I hope to be able to play six or seven years. It depends a lot on your body and if I can deliver.

Why are you doing all of the advertising project on the side?

- First, to get the opportunity to see other worlds and meet the people who are fun to work with. But also because I think it's funny. I get the chance to work and be involved in the well-known brands such as Head & Shoulders and now ICA advertising.

You are often seen in the fashion context - how much do you like clothes?

- I have not been trendy for years! But I run a lot on the costume that I really like working in. Then I drive jeans and suede jackets. I like Ralph Lauren suits and even Tiger of Sweden. But my style tip is to find oneself and running on what you like.

Grooming Routines - How much do you care about your appearance?

- I run a mustache now, the first day I was a bit scared when I looked at myself, extremely uncomfortable, but it is growing in the double sense, me and my brother supports the Movember challenge. When you have that role I have to do what you can, so I do charity stuff to influence what I can. Feels like there has been more focus on health.

What is your relationship with Head & Shoulders out?

- It's been incredibly enjoyable, we've been at it for four years now and has recorded videos that I really been involved from the beginning in and decided layup. It is fun.

What are you most proud of in your career?

- A couple of things when I think back, of course, to win national guilders home, Olympic gold but also to get here to New York and then establish themselves. It has been my dream. It is when you achieve their dreams one feels satisfaction and constantly looking for the next step. My big dream is to win the Stanley Cup in New York.

How do you push yourself on from season to season?

- I think it's just as fun still and see all the time how other hockey players play. It is clear that measuring themselves against others. NHL is the best league in the world so it's important to keep up with progress. But it's all about having fun, both on the ice at the side of the ice and feel comfortable with this lifestyle.

What do you feel that you have sacrificed your career?

- When I was younger, between 15-19 when many younger were out partying, so I focused on training and getting better. There were many times I opted out of fun things because I put hockey in the first place. I am glad that I was so focused when I was younger. My goal was to get here.

Are you living your boyhood dream now?

- I think, I enjoy hockey and life on the side. I have been lucky that ended up here and they chose me. I am grateful that I got a chance.


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Watch Henrik Lundqvist Fake Throwing His Stick in the Crowd

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Relaxed Henrik Lundqvist Now Smiles During Games

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For those seeking clarity regarding a Rangers’ team whose record is a whole lot better looking in the black-and-white of newsprint or website font than the team has been in blue, white and red on the ice, it could not be more crystal clear than this:

With Henrik Lundqvist on a mission — as he has been since reporting to camp after having been challenged by his head coach to be at his best from the get-go — all things are possible.


The Blueshirts are 16-3-2 following Monday’s 3-0 Garden victory over the Predators in a game that provided a microcosm of a season, through which they bend but do not break because the King simply refuses to allow it.

“I’m more relaxed this year,” Lundqvist said after boosting his league-leading save percentage to .946 with a 31-save performance. “I’ve always been so intense, but I’ve taken it down a notch.

“I’m very focused on the process.”

The shots for the first period were 14-3, Predators. The attempts were 35-12 after the Rangers — who have the worst man-advantage to man-disadvantage discrepancy in the NHL — played short-handed for 7:21 of the final 8:53. The shots after two periods were 25-7, Predators, and the attempts 62-21 after Nashville owned a 10:00-0:00 advantage in power-play minutes.

And yet, it was 1-0 Rangers, after Rick Nash scored his fourth goal in two games at 4:32. Of course it was. Who needs possession time? Who needs to put shots on net? Apparently not the Rangers, who, even when they do have the puck, operate under a philosophy of not shooting until they can see the whites of the goalie’s eyes.

“I don’t expect the team to play a perfect game,” said Lundqvist, he of the 1.74 goals-against average. “As a goalie, you need to be there for the team.

“As long as I take care of my part, I know they’re going to get going.”

Lundqvist’s part included a bevy of stops around the net on those Nashville tries that did get through a Rangers team that flashed back to 2011-12 by blocking 11 shots in both the first and second periods before finishing with a total of 26, Kevin Klein leading the way with six while Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh had four apiece.

“For them to pay the price, I have a lot of respect for that,” Lundqvist said. “I think the guys, when they see that, it gives the bench energy.

“As a goalie, it gives [me] a lot of energy.”

There was some good fortune as well, specifically when Filip Forsberg missed the net with Lundqvist unsuccessfully scrambling to get back after losing a race for the puck to James Neal in the right circle.

“When I took the first step, it seemed like a good idea,” Lundqvist said, laughing a winner’s laugh after being primarily responsible for extending Nashville’s franchise-record scoreless streak to 213:47.

But laughter has been part of the process for Lundqvist this season. The “real” King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, may recently have called for a ban on baths in his country, but the King of New York hockey is bathing in his new approach to the game.

“It’s a lot about trusting my instincts and challenging a little more,” said Lundqvist, who notably came out to cut down the angle on a Ryan Ellis blast from the left circle at 12:45 during the Predators’ first power play. “We [he and goaltending coach Benoit Allaire] talked about that a lot.

“It’s just more focus. I’m even smiling during games. I never did that in nine years. Smiling is good.”

So the Rangers keep on rolling, even if there are times it seems as if the puck is a boulder rolling down a hill against them. All along, it has been a chicken-and-egg thing for the Rangers, and no, no one is calling them a bunch of ’fraidy cats.

Specifically, as the old-as-time, which-came-first applies to the Blueshirts, it is whether the club would play a better overall brand of hockey and continue to win or whether they would continue to play flawed hockey but start to lose.

The answer provided last night was neither.

“I’d rather find a way to win than play perfect,” said Lundqvist, who merely found the way to do both on Monday.


http://nypost.com/2015/11/23/relaxed-henrik-lundqvist-simply-will-not-let-rangers-lose/

Henrik Lundqvist Post-Game Video Interview; Records 57th Career Shutout

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Henrik Lundqvist earned his 300th regulation win - he and Mike Richter are the only Rangers’ goalies to reach that milestone - and, with 351 career victories overall, Lundqvist tied Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk for the third-most wins a goaltender has recorded with one franchise in NHL history.