By Larry Brooks
So the Rangers have stanched the arterial bleeding that just over a week ago had been threatening their viability as a playoff contender. The tourniquet was applied by Henrik Lundqvist, Doctor of Goaltending and first responder.
The King is on his way to the Vancouver Olympics to attempt to defend the Gold Medal that he and Team Sweden won in 2006, while the Blueshirts are on their way into the winter recess having won three of their last four following yesterday's 5-2 victory at the Garden over the Lightning.
And they've gotten back on their skates behind Lundqvist, who has surrendered a sum of seven goals over the last four matches, including Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Nashville. The goaltender's brief, late January-early February dip in which he lost six straight in regulation is a thing of the past.
"I know what I have to do; I know I have to challenge myself to be consistently at the top of my game," said Lundqvist, whose exceptional work gave his team the opportunity to rally after trailing 2-0 after the first period. "I know I have to be up there to give us the chance to win."
Of course the Blueshirts would have a better chance to win if they play the full 60 minutes instead of the 20, 30 or 40 that has become their M.O. through a season in which they've been outscored by an aggregate 53-45 in the first period.
"The way we bounced back was impressive, but it is just not acceptable for us to have a first period like this in which we were dead and lackadaisical," Chris Drury said. "Obviously we have to correct this as soon as we get back. We leave ourselves with no margin for error when we're always trying to come back."
The Rangers first were thrown a lifeline by Sean Avery, who beat Mike Smith on the first penalty shot of his career at 1:40 of the second after being tripped on a breakaway. Silent Sean, a career 0-for-2 in shootouts, went up top from a seemingly impossible wide angle after cutting right to left with a nifty pump-fake as part of the repertoire.
"He's done that in practice and I challenged him by saying he would never do that in a game," Lundqvist, who made 27, said. "But he did it and it was huge goal."
The goal was followed 15 seconds thereafter by a huge pad save by Lundqvist on a Nate Thompson backhand and then four minutes later by another huge pad save by the King, this time on Martin St. Louis' two-on-one try at the left porch. Vinny Prospal tied the game on the ensuing rush at 6:07.
Erik Christensen then scored twice with 1:46 before Drury nailed it down with an empty-netter. Wonder of wonders, the Blueshirts scored five times without Marian Gaborik to lean up, the Slovakian Olympian out nursing the right thigh gash he sustained last Tuesday.
"Sometimes, because Gabby is such a great scorer, the mentality is to wait for him to do it, or try to force him the puck even if a play is not there," said Drury. "Without him, the rest of all have more responsibility."
With or without The Great Gabby, though, the responsibility is always the same for Lundqvist.
"It's hard for us to win if the goalie only plays OK," said the goalie. "I know I have to play great."
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/king_of_the_rink_Cl1J02hK2fT2E606PhBz1L#ixzz0fe0WQr9P
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