Henrik Enjoying Day Off in Tampa

Perhaps the Rangers are feeling loose after yesterdays crucial win over the Islanders; instead of just relaxing at their hotel during todays off day in Tampa, Henrik and his teammates, Sean Avery, Aaron Voros and Marian Gaborik decided to spend their day off by taking a relaxing boat ride. The above photo shows the teammates in a van on the way to the boat, and is courtesy of Aaron Voros' Twitter account. Nice shades, Henrik.

Rangers Defeat Islanders, Still in Playoff Hunt; Lundqvist in Better Mood

• Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves in net to improve to 31-26-9 overall, including a 16-10-3 mark on the road this season. He has now posted a record of 3-0-1 in the last four games, registering a 2.20 goals against average with a .928 save percentage and one shutout over the span.

Rare Lapse by Lundqvist Costs Rangers

TORONTO — Henrik Lundqvist has saved the Rangers countless times in his five years in the N.H.L., never more often than this season.

But a soft goal he allowed late in the third period of what turned out to be a 3-2 overtime loss here Saturday night cost them a critical point in their desperate chase for the last playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

“Terrible goal,” said Lundqvist, disconsolate and swearing in disgust, which was extremely unusual for him.

Tomas Kaberle’s shot from the corner along the goal line with 3 minutes 35 seconds to play sneaked in past Lundqvist’s left skate, which Lundqvist had not kept flush against the goal post, and sent what would have been the Rangers’ third straight victory to overtime instead.

“I timed it bad, tried to kick it to the side, and it took a roll and hit my skate and went in,” said Lundqvist, who made a number of sparkling stops among his 29 saves.

Nikolai Kulemin compounded Lundqvist’s agony with a wraparound goal in overtime that left the Rangers with 1 point instead of 2, damaging their chances of reaching the postseason.

The 10th-place Rangers are 4 points out of the eighth and final playoff position, which is occupied by Philadelphia and Boston, two teams tied for seventh. The Flyers lost on Saturday afternoon, but the Bruins won, and Boston has a game in hand. The Rangers have a more realistic chance of overtaking the Flyers. Both teams have seven games to play, including the final two head to head.

The Atlanta Thrashers, in ninth, won on Saturday night and are 2 points out of eighth.

Rangers Coach John Tortorella lamented the chances his team had to put away the game, saying, “You don’t get that third goal, it just leaves that door opened for what happened.” Instead, the Leafs rallied from a 2-0 deficit for their ninth victory in 12 games.

The Rangers have lost only 61 man-games to injury this season, the lowest total in the league. Nevertheless, injuries played a role in Saturday’s game.

Sean Avery limped off favoring his left leg with about seven minutes left in the second period after being pinned to the boards by Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn. He did not return and said he would not know the extent of the injury until Sunday.

“He was probably playing his best hockey of the year,” Tortorella said of Avery. “It hurts the club. He was really focused in there the last couple of weeks.”

The Rangers were already without Ryan Callahan, whose 19 goals make him the Rangers’ No. 2 goal-scorer behind Marian Gaborik. Callahan aggravated a left leg injury during the Rangers’ last-minute 4-3 shootout victory over the Devils on Thursday.

A forward called up from Hartford, P. A. Parenteau, opened the scoring Saturday at 10:25 of the first period when he whipped himself around 270 degrees in the high slot and beat goalie Jonas Gustavsson under the right pad.

Brandon Dubinsky made the score 2-0 with 11 seconds left in the period when Gustavsson, caught on his knees, could not react quickly enough to Dubinsky’s wraparound and got tangled with defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

Gustavsson, who extended his personal winning streak to seven with a 36-save performance, was happy to play against Lundqvist, his Olympic teammate with Sweden and a personal idol.

“Every goalie back there has wanted to be the next Lundqvist,” Gustavsson said.

Thursday’s win over the Devils made Lundqvist the first goalie to be credited with 30 victories in each of his first five N.H.L. seasons, and the first Rangers goalie to record five straight 30-win seasons. None of that mattered to him after Kaberle’s goal.

“For all the chances they had, for them to tie it on a shot like that. ... ” Lundqvist said. “I’m happy the way I played the whole game except for that mistake. It cost us.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/sports/hockey/28rangers.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Henrik Lundqvist "Not a curser"

Meanwhile, while some players were trying to look at the positive of gaining at least one point out of the game (which, to me, at least, sounds ridiculous given the Rangers were up 1 with under four minutes to play and had taken a 2-0 lead after one period), goalie Henrik Lundqvist made the strongest case for not being happy with the one point. Understand, Henrik Lundqvist is not a curser. I’ve never heard him curse during a television interview. In fact, as I think back, I can’t recall him cursing in the relaxed setting of the dressing room after practices. And, trust me, there’s a lot of cursing going on at times.

But asked about Tomas Kaberle’s tying goal at 16:25 of the third period, Lundqvist said, “I let in a [bleeping] terrible goal. “I’m [bleeping] [ticked].”

Lundqvist said the problem was he mistimed his kick on the sharp angle shot. As to Nikolai Kulemin’s winner 39 seconds into overtime, here was John Tortorella’s explanation.


http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/comments/maple_leafs_3_rangers_2_ot_postgame_wrapup/

Lundqvist's blue streak only sign of tension in Rangers' dressing room

The New York Rangers are a desperate hockey team. Maybe.

John Tortorella's Blueshirts lost 3-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime on Saturday night, a glancing blow to their playoff hopes as they trail the Philadelphia Flyers for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference.

After the game, however, the Rangers and their coach were fairly calm about the result — minus a brief yet oddly subdued outburst from goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

"I played pretty good," he said. "Unfortunately, I let in a f---ing terrible goal and they tied the game late. I'm really f---ing pissed right now."

The goal he referred to belonged to Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle, and it tied the game with just more than three minutes left, setting the stage for Nikolai Kulemin's game-winner.

Kaberle's goal came on a freak shot from behind the Rangers goal line that wound up in the net.

"I timed it badly," Lundqvist said. "Tried to kick it to the side. Kicked it too early, and it hit my skate and went in. For all the chances they had, they score on a shot like that — it's unfortunate, but that's the way it is. At least we got a point. But it's really frustrating."

Ah, yes, the extra point. Last week, when the Montreal Canadiens lost to Toronto in a shootout, they too were happy to take home the single point. Coupled with Philadelphia's loss to Pittsburgh earlier in the day, the Rangers are now four points back of the Flyers (80 to 76) with seven games remaining. (Of course, Atlanta is sandwiched between the two at 78 points, but their schedule is a nightmare.)

"I think you just have to look at the positives," captain Chris Drury said. "We got five out of six [points] on the week. Certainly six out of six would be better, but you can't change it now. Just have to get ready for the Islanders."



Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/postedsports/archive/2010/03/27/lundqvist-s-blue-streak-only-sign-of-tension-in-rangers-dressing-room.aspx#ixzz0jRB0pZvk
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Henrik Lundqvist an Idol to Many

Finally, Henrik Lundqvist (30-26-8, 2.43 goals-against, .919 save percentage) will face Swedish countryman Jonas Gustavsson (15-13-8, 2.86 GAA, .902 save percentage) in nets. Though the “Monster,” at age 25, is just three years younger than Lundqvist, he called Lundqvist his idol, which sort of made Lundqvist blush when he was relayed that comment. Lundqvist said he didn’t meet Gustavsson until last summer at the Swedish Olympic orientation camp. But Gustavsson said Lundqvist’s play in leading Sweden to the 2006 Olympic Gold made him an idol to many.


http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/comments/new_personnel/

Lundqvist Denies Kovalchuk 3/25/10

Lundqvist Stones Elias Again 3/25/10

Lundqvist Phenomenal Glove Save on Elias 3/25/10

Henrik Lundqvist saves Rangers, sets record

NEWARK – Henrik Lundqvist made history Thursday night. More importantly to the Rangers’ immediate plight, he stopped everything he faced from the Devils in overtime and in the shootout.

“I try to have the same mind-set in every shootout, just be patient and let them react,” Lundqvist said. “I just tried to focus and remind myself how important this situation is.”

Lundqvist made 35 saves, including six in overtime, as the Rangers beat the Devils, 4-3, in a shootout at Prudential Center to move within three points of the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff position with eight games to play.

In doing so, he became the first goalie in NHL history with at least 30 victories in each of his first five seasons. Last year, he was the first goalie in league history to reach the milestone in each of his first four seasons.

“I haven’t really thought of it,” Lundqvist said. “Right now, I need over 30 wins, at least 35, to really have a chance at the playoffs.”

In the shootout, he turned aside Zach Parise, then stabbed out his glove to rob Patrik Elias before stopping Travis Zajac to clinch the crucial win.

“We could have run away with the game easy,” Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. “But their goalie was great.”

Even though Elias scored on a rising shot to give the Devils a 2-1 lead at 3:53 of the third period, Lundqvist kept him from what could have been a hat trick.

Lundqvist gloved Elias slap shot through traffic at 9:28 of the first period, then made a brilliant right pad save on Elias’ short-handed breakaway at 9:43 of the second period.

The shift before Jamie Langenbrunner gave the Devils a 3-2 lead with his slap shot from the right at 12:37 of the third period, Lundqvist stoned Elias on another breakaway chance.

“Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don’t,” said Elias, who along with Ilya Kovalchuk and Zajac, had six shots. “On [the short-handed chance], I came in from the left side there and I tried to move him with me to the right. He didn’t because he plays so deep so he still had his pad there. On the second one, I shot it through his arm and wide and, in the shoot out, I’ve had a few of those against him so he knew what I was looking for. I scored on him a couple on the glove side and he didn’t give me that tonight.”

Lundqvist made up for his last performance at the Rock, when he was removed after allowing five goals on 17 shots in a 6-3 loss on March 10.

He is now 17-4-5 with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in 26 regular-season games facing the Devils’ Marty Brodeur.

“Hank was outstanding, which he is going to have to be if we’re going to climb the hill,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said.


http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/hockey/032610_Henrik_Lundqvist_saves_Rangers_sets_record.html

Rangers Riding Lundqvist

So John Tortorella, the head coach of the Rangers, had a better idea. You can ask him. Well, maybe it's best not to.
But anyway, it was Tortorella's plan going into the season to reduce Henrik Lundqvist's workload. That vow went by the wayside more quickly than Steve Valiquette's confidence.

And a good thing, too. It's a good thing that Tortorella recognized that The King is as indispensable as it gets in this league, as important to his team as any player in the NHL, and that includes fellow royal court members Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

You know, it's strange. Tortorella came to New York with a reputation for chewing up and spitting out goaltenders. But he's been a softie with Lundqvist, careful with his words in appraising the goaltender's play as if he recognizes that alienating The King is the last thing he could afford.

Sitting Lundqvist would be a close second. That's why the goaltender started for the ninth straight time, 17th time in the last 18 games and 64th time overall.

We hold these truths to be self-evident in the wake of the Blueshirts' stirring high stakes 4-3 shootout victory over the Devils last night at The Rock in which Lundqvist outdueled Martin Brodeur yet again -- that the teams directly in front of the Blueshirts in the revived playoff chase are pretty lousy and that not one has a player, let alone goaltender, of Lundqvist's caliber.
You have to understand that even as the Devils are on their way to finishing ahead of the Rangers for the 13th straight season, Lundqvist's arrival put an end to the Great Brodeur's dominance of the Blueshirts. Brodeur's dominance ran from 1996-97 through the lockout and at one time included a 23-game (15-0-8) unbeaten streak in which he gloried.
Now, following last night's brilliant performance, the Swede is 16-4-5 lifetime against Brodeur, with last night's victory perhaps the most critical one yet in regular season play.
But there is more to Lundqvist than the goaltending support he provides that is Brodeurian in its consistency. Indeed, on a club whose locker room might be mistaken for transient housing, Lundqvist has emerged as a leader and spokesman.
He talks for the team the way Brodeur does for New Jersey. He talks-or shouts-at them at times the same way, too. A timeout midway through last night's third period after the Devils had swept in on a series of breakaways and odd-man rushes happened to be one of those times.
"I snapped," Lundqvist told The Post. "We were just giving up way too much, and I knew that it had to stop if we were going to win the game.
"I understand that you can't be screaming every time there are breakdowns, but sometimes I don't think it hurts to say a few words. I was definitely not happy."
The Rangers listened respectfully. And then responded. That's the happy recap.
"With what he does for us, Hanky can dissect our game all he wants," Marc Staal said.
It's the goaltender as a leader and spokesman and keeper of the torch.
"I definitely feel the responsibility to be a leader and to say what's on my mind, whether on the ice or in meetings," Lundqvist said. "Even something like, when Aves [Sean Avery] and I were telling the guys earlier in the year about this rivalry, because so many of them are new and don't know."
But they know what they have in Lundqvist. So does Tortorella.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/king_sized_asset_CYmzzlm7Qev695hx5txOlK#ixzz0jJgrnVBO

Lundqvist Sets New Record in Win Over N.J

• Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves through regulation and overtime, and turned aside all three shots faced in the shootout, to record his 30th win of the season and improve to 30-26-8 overall with a 15-10-2 mark on the road. Lundqvist is the only goalie in NHL history to post 30 or more wins in each of his first five seasons, and became the first Rangers goaltender in franchise history to record five consecutive 30-win seasons. Lundqvist has now matched-up against Martin Brodeur in 26 career regular season contests, posting a record of 17-4-5 with a 1.75 goals against average, a .938 save percentage and four shutouts over the span.

Drury, Christensen, Lundqvist star in remarkable win

Should the Rangers qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, they will undoubtedly look back to Thursday night at the Prudential Center as the moment that served as a true catalyst for their late-season playoff push.

The Blueshirts wiped out three one-goal deficits, the last with 16.8 seconds remaining in regulation, and scored the only goal of the shootout en route to a thrilling 4-3 road victory over the Devils. The victory, coupled with Boston’s loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday, leaves the Rangers only three points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with eight games left on the regular season schedule.

“I thought we fought hard all night long,” said Rangers head coach John Tortorella. “Once (the tying goal) goes in, you get one point, so we’re pretty happy about that. But in the situation we’re in you start thinking about trying to get that second (point), as well. That was a big two points for us.”

Erik Christensen scored the only goal of the shootout and assisted on Chris Drury’s game-tying goal in the closing seconds for the Rangers.

Christensen, the first shooter in the shootout, beat Devils goalie Martin Brodeur to the stick side, though his shot hit off the post. The referee immediately signaled that Christensen had not scored, but the ensuing video replay showed that the puck traveled across the goal line after caroming off the iron.

“After I shot it I swore it hit the post and I thought I saw it hit the twine and come back out quickly, so I was 90 percent sure it was in,” said Christensen. “To come out and play a game like we did tonight where we were down and kept coming back … it’s a night and day feeling of where we were at on Sunday after losing to Boston with all the emphasis on that game.”

Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist made the lone goal stand up by denying Zach Parise and Patrick Elias before Travis Zajac closed out the shootout by missing the net on the final attempt.

“They’ve got some good shooters in that situation, and Hank stood tall there,” Tortorella said of Lundqvist.

With the victory, Lundqvist, who made 35 saves on the night, became the first goalie in NHL history to record 30 wins in each of his first five seasons in the league. He also became the first Rangers’ netminder to win 30 games five consecutive years, breaking a record he had shared with Hall of Famer Ed Giacomin.

“Hank was the reason why we won tonight,” said Christensen. “He was terrific all night.”

Drury’s goal with 16.8 seconds left to play capped a wild third period in which each team scored twice, forcing overtime in the process.

After a timeout -- and with Lundqvist pulled for an extra attacker -- the Rangers controlled the faceoff in the offensive zone. Michael Del Zotto worked the puck in deep behind the Devil’ net where Christensen took possession of it. Christensen then whipped an incredible behind-the-back pass to Drury, and the Rangers’ captain slammed home his 12th goal of the season, likely his biggest of the year, to tie the game 3-3

“I think Del Zotto made a heck of a play,” said Drury. “The big key is getting the puck back behind the net. And it was simply a great pass by Erik.”

Drury’s goal erased the lead New Jersey had grabbed on a goal by Devils’ captain Jamie Langenbrunner with 7:23 remaining in the third period. New Jersey took advantage of a poor line change by the Rangers, taking the puck away by the Rangers bench to start the scoring play, which culminated in Langenbrunner’s booming right-wing slap shot that beat Lundqvist to the stick side.

Rookie center Artem Anisimov had pulled the Rangers even with 10:20 left to play in the third, tying the game 2-2 on a hard-working goal by fourth line. Brandon Prust spun a centering pass to Anisimov on Brodeur’s doorstep while absorbing a hit from a Devils defenseman and after Jody Shelley had pushed the puck into the offensive zone. Anisimov then patiently drifted back to his right as Brodeur fell to the ice, and he roofed his 12th goal of the season -- and second in as many nights -- high into the net.

“They deserved to be out on the ice; they kept their game simple; and they scored a huge goal there for us creating a big momentum swing,” Tortorella said of the fourth line. “They have been doing that now for the last little while. And Artie looks much more comfortable.”

The tying goal came six minutes after Patrick Elias had provided New Jersey with a 2-1 lead at 3:53. Elias one-timed a David Clarkson centering pass past Lundqvist for his 14th goal as the Rangers failed to pick him up between the circles.

After a sluggish first period in which they were outshot 9-4 and exited the ice trailing 1-0, the Rangers rebounded with a very strong second period. Much more aggressive in the neutral zone and on the forecheck, the Rangers sustained much more pressure in the offensive zone over the middle 20 minutes than they had in the initial 20.

As a result the Rangers created a string of scoring chances and headed to the third period even on the scoreboard 1-1.

Ilya Kovalchuk, a whirling dervish all night for the Devils, opened the scoring at 5:21 of the first period. Brian Rolston hammered a high, hard left-wing shot on net that was blockered down by Lundqvist. But Kovalchuk flew past Rangers’ defenseman Wade Redden and deposited the rebound into the back of the cage for his 38th goal to give New Jersey the early lead.


Rangers forward Sean Avery made it a long night for New Jersey's David Clarkson with a series of grating conversations that began during warm-ups and clearly had Clarkson and teammates on edge. Although the Devils continued to control play in all three zones, Lundqvist held them at bay until his teammates found their collective legs. So good was Lundqvist that after one particular sharp glove save at 9:28, Elias was left staring at the heavens in disbelief.

Lundqvist was also a bit lucky. After a breakdown in the defensive zone by the Rangers, New Jersey had a 3-on-1 opportunity that ended when Langenbrunner shoveled a backhand shot wide of the cage.

Off to a much stronger start in the second period, the Rangers pulled even with a power-play goal at 7:32. With Brian Rolston off for interfering with Del Zotto, Brandon Dubinsky fired a shot from the left dot through a Sean Avery screen in front and past Brodeur for his 17th goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Lundqvist assured that the Rangers would remain tied when he made a spectacular save on an Elias shorthanded breakaway. With a clear path to the goal, Elias patiently skated in and tried to beat Lundqvist with a shot to the stick side, but Lundqvist spread his legs as wide as possible and made a sensational right-pad save.

Then at 10:16, an apparent goal by Parise was emphatically waved off by the referee because he swatted the puck into the net with his arm. A video review upheld the on-ice decision, and the game remained tied 1-1.

“We got excellent goaltending and found a way to win a hockey game,” said Tortorella. “Now we’ll take a day off in Toronto and get ready to play against a really fast and aggressive team in Toronto on Saturday.”

That contest the head coach refers to is the Rangers’ next game, Saturday night against the Maple Leafs, as the Blueshirts seek a third consecutive win in their drive for a playoff spot.


http://rangers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009021097&navid=DL|NYR|home

Goalie Rivalry Gets Weird (N.Y Post Article 2008)

HENRIK PUZZLED BY BRODEUR REMARK


Imagine Henrik Lundqvist's surprise upon discovering that Martin Brodeur had been quoted in the Jan. 14, 2008, edition of Sports Illustrated as saying of the Rangers' goaltender, "The way he plays is not something I like too much.
"Lundqvist is weird."
"I have to tell you, I respect Marty a lot, and it's always a great challenge for me to play against him, but I don't know what to say about what he said about me," a rather bemused Lundqvist told The Post yesterday. "Does he think my style is weird? I don't think I have a weird style.
"Does he think that I'm weird as person? I don't think I'm weird. I don't know what to say."

It's Round 7 of the Battle of the Hudson at the Garden tonight, the Rangers against the Devils, Lundqvist against Brodeur. Tonight, the Blueshirts go for their seventh straight without a defeat against New Jersey, the first six victories including one in OT and two via shootouts.
And tonight, Lundqvist aims to improve his startling 11-2-3 career record against Brodeur, who in turn is 5-8-3 against the King. That's a far cry from the 33-11-16 mark Brodeur owns against the 10 other Rangers' netminders he's faced since his rookie 1993-94 season.
This isn't just about the goaltenders. This is about two teams in disrepair. The Devils have scored a sum of three goals in losing four straight (0-3-1). The Rangers have won only once in regulation over their last 11 games. The sixth-place Blueshirts can tie the fourth-place Devils with a regulation victory tonight, though New Jersey owns the tiebreaker.
But it is about the goaltending. It is about Lundqvist consistently elevating his game against Brodeur and the Devils, against whom he's allowed five goals in six games this year. It is about the Rangers getting the one they need to beat Brodeur, who once went 23 straight (15 wins, 8 ties) without a loss to the Rangers from mid 1996-97 to late 2000-01.
"I take it as a real challenge to play against Marty and all the top goalies, and I love playing in the rivalry games we have against the Islanders and Devils," Lundqvist said. "Everyone knows how much Marty has accomplished.
"It's a challenge for me to try to beat him, but I don't take it personally more against him than any other top goalie."
In the SI article, Brodeur is described as being miffed that Lundqvist did not acknowledge him at last year's NHL awards ceremony in Toronto when both were nominees for the Vezina that the New Jersey netminder captured for the third time.
"I never really had the opportunity to meet him," Lundqvist said. "It's not in my nature to go up to someone and start talking.
"Of course I was a little surprised to hear he was insulted. I mean, it takes two to say hello, doesn't it?"
When the Devils owned the Rangers through a 24-3-13 run over seven years preceding the lockout, Brodeur crowed about his team's superiority. He luxuriated in kicking the Blueshirts while they were down.
Now, though, with the Rangers 6-0 this season and 13-6-3 against the Devils since the lockout, Brodeur claims it's no big deal.
That's weird.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/item_CCs6Wxs8MGVex3VSwqfXlJ;jsessionid=458546FC191E1CE684AAB892CCD769B3#ixzz0jAFO05r0


Here is the link to the original Sports Illustrated article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/michael_farber/01/08/goalies0114/

Lundqvist gets shutout; Rangers rout Islanders, 5-0, at the Garden

NEW YORK – One win aside, reaching the playoffs is still more fantasy than reality for the Rangers.

But, preparing to face the Islanders, the players said there was a looser feel in the dressing room, mainly because nobody but them had any expectations they could reach the postseason.

So whether it was the Rangers more relaxed playing with an us-against-everybody mentality or because they faced a team lower in the Eastern Conference standings, they were dominant in a 5-0 win Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak, left the 10th-place Rangers (32-32-9) five points behind the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot with nine to play. Boston has a game at hand.

The 10th-place Rangers’ 2-1 loss Sunday at Boston left them in grave danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Marian Gaborik scored twice and had a goal and an assist in the Rangers’ three-goal first period and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots for his third shutout of the season and the 23rd of his career.

The victory was Lundqvist’s 29th this season and he’s expected to get a chance to win No. 30 tonight at New Jersey as the Rangers open a six-game road trip that includes the Islanders on Tuesday.

Last season, Lundqvist became the first goalie in NHL history to start his career with four straight 30-win seasons.

Dwayne Roloson allowed three goals on the first 12 shots he faced but made 39 saves for the Islanders (29-34-10).

The Rangers led 3-0 at 8:30 of the first period.

Michael Del Zotto, in the right faceoff circle, deposited Gaborik’s feed for a power play goal to give the Rangers a three-goal lead and the rookie defenseman his second goal in two games. The Rangers had outshot the Islanders, 12-2, to that point.

The Rangers, who were 1 for 16 on the power play during their three-game losing streak, had spent much of Monday and Tuesday working on their man-up play and went 2 for 6.

Rookie Artem Anisimov, dropped to the fourth line for the game after a rocky performance in Boston, opened the scoring at 3:12 by lifting a snap shot from the right faceoff circle. Gabork made it 2-0 at 5:45 after Marc Staal and Brandon Dubinsky made a strong rush into the Islanders’ zone.

The Rangers then outshot the Islanders, 17-3, in the second period.

Gaborik also netted a backhander on a partial breakaway to make it 4-0 at 10:34 of the third period.

Though he only assisted on Dan Girardi’s power-play goal at 16:19 of the third period, Sean Avery played one of his best games, rankling several Islanders with his mouth and body work. That started with the shouting match he had with Trevor Gillies during pre-game warmups.

On the game’s first shift, he jawed with Roloson, with Bruno Gervais stepping in and Avery also gave the Rangers a 5-on-3 power play at 12:41 of the third period after Blake Comeau and Gillies both retaliated for Avery’s hard hit on John Tavares. Gillies recieved a double minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/032410_Rangers_rout_Islanders_5-0_at_the_Garden.html

Henrik Talks Memorabilia Authenticity

Rangers lose to Boston, 2-1 ; play-off hopes dim, Lundqvist frustrated

And Henrik Lundqvist came as close as you can to calling out your teammates without actually doing so, saying the Bruins were “a little more aggressive, they played a little more physical,” and of the Rangers 0-for-6 power play, “I don’t know if their PK was great or if we had a really tough night.” Probably more of the latter, though the Bruins did an excellent job in preventing shots from going through to Tuukka Rask. Lundqvist also said he didn’t pick up Dennis Wideman’s backhander that proved to be the winner because “I saw it too late. My guy was in front of me. He shot through our guy, that’s why I didn’t pick it up.” “It looks pretty tough right now,” Lundqvist said. “As long as we have a chance, we’re going to fight.”

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/comments/bruins_2_rangers_1_postgame_wrapup/



"It was obviously the biggest game of the season and we didn't match...they were a little more aggressive and a little more physical," said a blameless and perturbed Henrik Lundqvist. "It's really disappointing and frustrating to be here."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_fall_final_bruins_drop_five_ZOiK1L1IrVgyW8xX5q9FTO#ixzz0irv7GgNs

Henrik and Joel Lundqvist Swedish Interview (amelia.se 2009)

Therese, Henrik, Henrik's mother&father, Joel's Wife, Joel



Clothing style is so personal, but if I shall be deleted from my point of view, so yes, I dress better. But who am I?

Is it not embarrassing to be so praised as you are?
- I have a twin brother and a girlfriend who is cutting me to the ground. Everything has come in stages so I have learned to handle it. It did not happen overnight like.

You are called "King Henry". Have you ever been using your own nickname?
- Ha ha, I can joke about it at the dinner table, especially with my brother. But I would never use it outside.

How childish can a bunch of hockey millionaires actually be in the dressing room? Towel soon? Kiss of the shampoo bottle?
- Perhaps not the last one (smiles). But of course it will be very joke. Grabber and childish!

Where are the clothing interest?
- I always liked clothes, but it has emerged more and more. I'm the only one wearing a suit, whether we travel by bus or plane.

Is it important to go neatly dressed?
- The important thing is that you feel good! I feel good when I have nice clothes for myself and feel more comfortable that way. Some just need t-shirt, cap and flip flops to thrive and where will they run on it.

Mats Sundin has said that you dress more elegant. What do your teammates?
- One time I went to the collection directly from a TV studio and then it was not hatched from that they called for a goalkeeper and no bassist.

Which hockey players would you like to give a make over and why?
- A teammate of New York, Jason Strudwick. He looks pretty good, but he dresses for the damned with shirts from the 80 - and 90's.

Have you and Joel a "twin connection"?
- We are incredibly tight, but I do not know if he is doing badly right.

Who got the chicks when you were younger?
- For us it was actually only sport that was then. But he's not here right now and can defend themselves so I have to say that it was me!

Facts about Henke

Name: Henrik Lundqvist
Age: 27
Occupation: Goalie ice hockey team New York Rangers in the NHL.
Lives: New York
Current: Brothers Campaign with twin brother Joel
Family: Girlfriend Therese Andersson

http://www.amelia.se/artiklar/2009/narganget-med-henke/index.xml

Henrik Lundqvist Gold in the Net Hockey School

A wonderful new hockey season has been launched and we are doing, as usual, working on the poles until we meet on Öckerö next time.

There are no shortcuts to the top of the goalies - the only way to get well is to practice, practice, practice ... Every movement and the movement must be rubbed into. And once they sit, just continue to wear! To an outsider it does not sound fun, but you and I both know that målvaktsträning is the best thing there is.

What do I mean by this? Well, not to rush through the education system we have in Gold in the Net. It is well proven and has long been used in the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. The contents of each level is carefully designed. You may have heard the expression "two years in each class. I think this is a good pace to develop the Gold in the Net. You should master the exercises in each level really well before you go to the next level. That way you get a steady and stable development of your goalie play. For as I said ... there are no shortcuts for a goalkeeper!


- Henrik Lundqvist's message to young goalies interested in attending his hockey school in Sweden- Gold in the Net.

For more information on Gold in the Net, you can visit their website at: http://www.goldinthenet.se/?school=hl

Rangers fall to Blues, 4-3, as Henrik Lundqvist has off night

NEW YORK – The usually-reliable Henrik Lundqvist had an off night at the worst time for the Rangers.


Lundqvist faced just 16 shots – a season-low against the Rangers - but the Blues won, 4-3, Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Three of the goals looked stoppable.

Meanwhile in Boston, the Penguins beat the eighth-place Bruins, 3-0, leaving the ninth-place Rangers (31-31-9) three points out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot with a critical game Sunday at Boston. The 10th-place Thrashers also won Thursday, leaving them tied in points with the Rangers with 71.

So instead of making a strong playoff push, the Rangers find themselves in a 2-4-2 rut. And the Bruins, who also don’t play until Sunday, still have a game in hand.

The Rangers are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Wade Redden tied the game at 3-3 at 7:11 of the third period, the much-maligned defenseman’s second of the season and first in 58 games. But Paul Kariya regained the lead for the Blues 1:13 later, tipping in T.J. Oshie’s centering pass for his 400th career goal.

The Rangers frustration reached its apex early in the third period as the Blues’ Erik Johnson flipped the puck over the glass for a delay of game six seconds in and Roman Polak followed suit 43 seconds later. Yet the Rangers managed just one five-on-three shot in 1:17 and just one skating one man up.

Ty Conklin made 26 saves for the Blues (33-28-9).

Yet coach John Tortorella just laughed when asked before the game whether he had any fears the Rangers would look past the Blues toward Sunday’s showdown.

“I know our guys are smart enough and I respect them well enough that they can’t look by anything,” Tortorella said. “You look by something, the next one might not mean anything.”

With this three-game homestand concluded, the Rangers now play eight of their final 11 games on the road. On the plus side, six of those games are against teams currently below the Rangers in the conference standings, including two games apiece against the Islanders and Maple Leafs.

The Rangers certainly looked like a team looking ahead as Brad Boyes snapped a shot over Lundqvist’s glove at 1:10 of the first period on the game’s first shot.
Oshie and David Backes both hit the post for the Blues in the first period but the Rangers led 2-1 at the first intermission.

The Rangers weren’t so lucky in the second period as the Blues scored two soft goals on six shots.

Defenseman Mike Weaver, who had gone 184 games without a goal, tied it at 2:21 on a shot from inside the blue line that Lundqvist missed. Johnson made it 3-2 at 5:45 with an unassisted power play goal, a flip from the right boards that trickled through Lundqvist’s five-hole after Redden tripped Boyes at 4:32.

Meanwhile, for the third straight game since his benching, Sean Avery was a key factor.

He goaded Eric Brewer into knocking him down at the Blues’ crease as they battled for position at 5:15 of the first period and with Brewer in the penalty box for roughing, Ryan Callahan tipped in Olli Jokinen’s slap shot to tie the game at 1-1 at 5:52. Avery also drew a tripping penalty against Weaver at 14:45 of the first period, though Lundqvist was forced to stop two shorthanded breakaways.

Marian Gaborik made it 2-1 at 17:08 of the first period with just his second goal in eight games as his wrist shot rose off Carlo Colaiacovo’s stick and handcuffed Ty Conklin, who tried to backhand it with his glove.

Brandon Prust, listed at 5-foot-11, re-energized the Rangers after Boyes’ goal as he fought – and beat – Brad Winchester at 2:53 despite giving up six inches and 36 pounds.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/031910_Rangers_fall_to_Blues_4-3_as_Henrik_Lundqvist_has_off_night.html

Random Observation During Interview

While watching Henrik's latest post-practice interview I noticed that behind him, in his locker, is a yellow button with a man's face on it. I remember I had seen it before and wondered who/what it was but could never get a closer look at it. These shots were the best I could do. I still don't know who the man is, but thought that maybe someone else out there might know. Perhaps, he is someone well-known in Sweden? If anyone does know, leave a comment as I am curious about this. Thanks.

Exclusive Pictures of Henrik at Private Steiner Sports Autograph Signing (3/17/10)

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-signing-room#

Lundqvist's heroics not enough to stop Habs at MSG

Henrik Lundqvist turned in a sensational 32-save performance, but had two shots deflect past him, which proved to be the difference as the Rangers fell to the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers had won two in a row before Tuesday’s loss. Montreal has now won six straight, and seven of eight since the Olympic break.

“It felt like this was a game where we didn’t play our best, but we still had a chance to win,” said Lundqvist. “That is how you get back in the (playoff) race, but unfortunately we couldn’t get the last touch there in the third to get the game-winner.”

The Canadiens snapped a 1-1 tie and grabbed the lead at 5:59 of the third period on a broken play in front in which the puck skittered past Lundqvist after deflecting off a teammate’s skate.

Hard work by Travis Moen and Dominic Moore deep in the Rangers end led to the puck finding the stick of Sergei Kostitsyn at the lower left wing. Kostitsyn chipped a shot towards the crease, and it deflected off Artem Anisimov and over the goal line. It was the second straight goal against Lundqvist that had been deflected past him.

“That’s what happens in this game,” said alternate captain Ryan Callahan. “It seems a lot of goals are being scored that way these days. Maybe we need to take a lesson from this and just start throwing pucks at the net and get guys in front. But those are the bounces sometimes.”

The Rangers were awarded a power play with 8:40 left in the game, but failed to generate any sustained pressure much less score the tying goal, and another in the final minute. Montreal killed off all five Rangers power plays on Tuesday night and iced the game with Tomas Plekanec’s shorthanded goal into an empty net with 36 seconds left to play.

“We weren’t very good at all on the power play,” said Erik Christensen. “Both units just struggled getting control and making plays and getting shots through. I think the guys looked at that as a frustrating part of the game.”

In very similar fashion to Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the Flyers, the Rangers trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes of play, only to have Sean Avery score a big goal early in the second to pull the home team even on the scoreboard.

However, unlike Sunday, the Rangers were unable to score that second goal before the second period was complete, and, as a result, they headed to the third period tied 1-1 with the Canadiens.

“They accomplished what we couldn’t,” Christensen said of the Canadiens.

Montreal drew first blood when Glen Metropolit deflected Andrei Markov’s power-play blast past Lundqvist 3:34 into the first period. The play began with a clean faceoff win in the offensive zone by former Ranger Scott Gomez. Markov then hammered his shot towards the net, and as Lundqvist moved one way, the puck deflected another, and the Rangers trailed early 1-0.

While his teammates struggled to get their collective offensive game going in the opening period, Lundqvist was solid, finishing the period with eight saves.

One Ranger who showed some life late in the opening stanza was Avery, who was coming off an impactful two-goal performance on Sunday. With five minutes to go in the first Avery had a huge shift that nearly led to the tying goal. First he set up Michal Rozsival with a perfect centering pass into the slot, and moments later his snapshot handcuffed Canadiens’ goalie Jaroslav Halak, who made the stop, but saw the puck slip from his grasp and trickle just wide of the cage.

Avery was not to be denied 2:02 into the middle period, however. Setting a screen in front of Halak, Avery was perfectly positioned to tip Matt Gilroy’s right-wing shot off the far post and over the goal line to tie the game, all while being cross-checked to the ice from behind by Montreal defenseman Hal Gill.

Two minutes later Avery drew a high-sticking penalty against Montreal’s Andrei Kostitsyn. Even though the Canadiens killed off the Rangers’ man-advantage, Avery, who also skated on the power play, was once again imposing his will on many facets of the game.

Meanwhile Lundqvist continued his brilliant play at the other end of the ice. Lundqvist stopped all 18 shots he faced in the second period, including a 3-on-1 Montreal rush with 37 seconds left in the period.

While Lundqvist saw 27 shots over the first 40 minutes of play, Halak barely saw any rubber his way, facing only 11 shots. The Rangers repeatedly had shots blocked or did not fire their shots on net, instead hammering open opportunities off the glass or the back boards. Guilty of over passing and victims several times of bouncing pucks, the Rangers continually came close to scoring chances without actually being credited with shots on goal.

“It’s so obvious how we have to play to be successful, but we’re just not consistent with it,” said Rangers head coach John Tortorella. “What we did well against Philly is the opposite of the spectrum tonight.”

Perhaps the most glaring of these plays came at the nine-minute mark of the second period. With the Rangers killing a penalty, Callahan fed a cutting Brandon Dubinsky in the slot with a perfect pass off a 2-on-2 rush. Dubinsky danced around the defenseman and broke in alone on Halak, only to have the puck slide off his stick at the last possible second before shooting.

“One of our main things was to get pucks in deep and behind them, and I don’t think we were too successful with that tonight,” said Callahan. “And when we did we turned it over quite a bit there.”

Now three points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers will gear up for a battle with a Western Conference foe, the St. Louis Blues, on Thursday night at The Garden.

http://rangers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009021028

'He has to be backbone' for Rangers (ESPN.com Article 2010)

ATLANTA -- You can often tell the measure of a pro athlete by the way he deals with the media, not after a big win or a great performance, but after a bitter defeat or a lousy outing.

Not that it's always about the media (just most of the time), but those moments provide insight in terms of an athlete's character. And to our knowledge, it is a measuring stick against which New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist has never failed to earn the highest marks.

It was so in Vancouver after the defending gold medalists from Sweden were bounced in the Olympic quarterfinals by Slovakia in a game that saw Lundqvist stop just 10 of 14 shots. It was so last April after the Rangers blew a 3-1 series lead against Washington in the first round. And it was so in an almost empty Philips Arena last week, a couple of days after Lundqvist was yanked from yet another Rangers loss, with the end of the regular season less than a month away.

The 28-year-old had already chatted with the New York media, but agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to talk to a latecomer as he headed toward the team bus after the morning skate.

"I think, as a goalie, you can't think that you have to win," Lundqvist told ESPN.com. "You have to think, 'Just play as good as you can and give your team a chance to win,' because I can't really affect how we play as a team or if we score or not. If I get too involved emotionally with how we do as a team, I'll lose focus on my end, my job."

Of all the teams still fighting for a playoff spot or set for the playoffs, perhaps no team relies more emphatically on its netminder for success than the New York Rangers.

The Rangers rank 23rd in goals per game. Only Boston, which ranks 30th, has more trouble scoring in the Eastern Conference and has a legitimate shot at a playoff spot. Yes, we know, good goaltending is key to almost all success in the NHL; but the Rangers, who reinvent their lineup and identity on an almost annual basis, rely on Lundqvist because he is the one constant.

That the Rangers have managed to qualify for the playoffs four straight seasons since the lockout is a testament not only to Lundqvist's significant skill set but also to his consistency and ability to weather storms, internally and externally.

Whether the Rangers are able to make it five trips to the dance will again depend on those qualities, which have at times been absent from the man some like to call "The King."

"He's been fine," said Rangers coach John Tortorella, who has been known to toss his goaltenders right under the bus during his career as an NHL bench boss. "The other night, there were a lot of deflections, a lot of just weird goals, so he's been fine. Again, for us, Boston wins last night, Montreal wins last night, it is staring us right in the face here, so he's going to have to be the best he can be at this time. He's going to have to be the backbone, as he always is. I'm sure he's ready to accept that challenge."

Tortorella -- who won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004 and was recently part of the coaching staff of the silver medal-winning American team in Vancouver -- talked of staring destiny in the face as it relates to the Rangers getting into the playoffs. The Rangers were five points out of eighth place heading into Thursday's game against Atlanta. A loss would have meant five straight losses for the Blueshirts, a crippling blow to their playoff chances. But as he has so many times since joining the Rangers in the 2005-06 season, Lundqvist held the fort, turning aside 29 of 31 as the Rangers kept their playoff hopes alive.

He followed that up by blocking 17 of 18 as the Rangers knocked off Atlantic Division foe Philadelphia on Sunday to close within one point of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Lundqvist insists he doesn't view himself as the difference between winning and losing.

"I try to just go in with the mindset of, 'Play as good as possible and give us a chance to win and see what happens,'" he said.

Since Jan. 27, Lundqvist has allowed five or more goals four times. Those are the kinds of outings that have made this season a peculiar one for the perennial Vezina Trophy nominee.

Goaltending stats don't reflect solely the play of a goaltender, but more the play of a team's defense, its commitment to backchecking and the like. And it's not as though Lundqvist has somehow lost his edge. He did turn in a 22-game stretch during which he didn't allow more than three goals in any game. He also has a 2.45 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage through 60 games this season. Still, he acknowledged that, at the end of the day, he'll wish he had more wins and played better.

"Overall, it's been an OK year," Lundqvist said. "You always want to win more, you always want to play a little bit better, but overall I think it's been pretty good. But at the end of the year, you always look at how many games you actually won, and obviously I'd like it to be a little bit more."

The Rangers will host red-hot Montreal on Tuesday and St. Louis on Thursday before traveling to Boston on Sunday for what promises to be another do-or-die outing. Still, in many ways, the Rangers hold the key to their destiny. Or rather, it would appear, Lundqvist holds the key. Again.

"The last couple of years, we've been in position where we were a little disappointed," Lundqvist said. "We wanted to be higher up in the standings, and we still pulled it off in the end. Knowing that we've done it in the past helps. We know as long as we take care of business here, we can get back in the race. It looks pretty tough right now and we're still trying to find some consistency here, but you never know."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=5000218


The photo used above was taken by myself at a recent Rangers game. Please ask for permission for use, thank you.

I FROZE TO HAIL GOALIE AS KING

By CINDY ADAMS

HENRIK LUNDQVIST
One of the most beautiful in People.


October 5, 2006 -- TONIGHT is the New York Rangers' opening game. They play Washing ton. So how do hotshot hockey play ers mark the day? 10:30 practice, 12:30 lunch, 1:30 nap, call time at the Garden 4:30. And how do I know? Because I sat in on practice yesterday.

The practice rink in Tarrytown is Madison Square Garden's size. The differences are, although I brought a sweater and heaters were overhead, I nearly froze to death. Also, there's no raked stadium seating. I sat at ice level. Exactly where the goalie crouches. Exactly where the puck slams into the protective Plexiglas. It's terrifying. The puck travels at 100 mph but, I was told, "This is only 60 percent of the intensity of real play where teams don't like each other."

Right. Okayyyyy then.

A goalie being the most important player, I was introduced to goalie Henrik Lundqvist. He's 24, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, although who could tell with his massive leggings, shields, face mask, body protection and huge gloves. After leading Team Sweden to gold at Torino's Olympics last year, he joined the Rangers and broke the rookie record for wins.

Called King Henrik, this hottest new name at the Rangers, whose follow-up contract will net him multi mega multiple millions, who was featured in People's "100 Most Beautiful" May issue, said: "Yeah, I've gotten hurt a few times. And I get sore. I've had problems with my hips and knees. Ask me in 10 years how my knees are holding up. I sometimes have to ice them.

"In Russia, I had my jaw broken at a practice session. The puck hit one side of my mouth. I couldn't open my mouth. It wasn't totally broken but it was a little bit cracked. I thought I'd lost all my teeth." Smiling broadly, what he flashed were whiter and larger than those 18 mm South Sea pearls Ellen Barkin is unloading at Christie's. Clearly he still had them. "They wanted me to go to a hospital, but I wouldn't. I wanted to wait until I got back to Sweden two days later. It was hard for a while. I could eat only soup.

"A goalie must be flexible. Unfortunately, I am not a very flexible person. I've started doing yoga to help. I use my muscles, but if you look at my body you'll see I'm stiff."

I might've lingered on that part of looking at his body, but King Henrik forged onward. "In hockey you have to be focused. No matter what's going on in your life, you must get it out of your mind when you step onto the ice. I play visual situations out, things that could go wrong, in my head before I play so if something does happen it's already a familiar situation to me and I know what to do because I've already pictured it.

"I go through ritual superstitions. Before I go out I hit the wall with my stick. I hit a certain post with my stick. You need that to feel comfortable. It's stressful out there. And I try to eat the same things. I love junk food. Pizza, hamburgers, Mexican, pasta. I'll eat pasta. I love pasta."

The guy talks easily. No accent. Off-season he lives in Gothenburg, Sweden. His twin plays hockey for whatever's in Dallas. Christmas his parents flew here to see him play at the Garden. He sports a beard and moustache "because I don't like to shave when I'm carrying a lot of equipment. It itches. I shave more in off-season." His Swedish girlfriend Therese lives with him. "I hope she thinks I'm one of the 100 most beautiful," he said and again flashed those Ellen Barkin pearls.

So when did New York Ranger No. 30 begin playing? "I started skating at 4. I could barely walk, let alone skate. My father's a ski instructor. We lived in a ski village, and at 8 I started in hockey.

"So what will I ever do someday when I can no longer play? I'm still young, so that's way off. If I play here 10 years, I should have enough money to maybe open a restaurant." Yeah. Or to buy his entire native country.

The season lasts until mid-April. Playoffs are first week in June. Tonight a family room's open following the game with food since they're all starving because they don't eat beforehand. Trust me, these Rangers eat good. I toured their cafeteria. Lunchtime it was pork chops with gravy, pasta, sweet potatoes, thick pea soup. We are not talking tuna tartare and asparagus spears here. But will he do anything special afterward?

"Maybe go out. I love New York restaurants. I love New York. I only don't love that Wollman ice-skating rink in Central Park. Their skates are terrible. Thick and dull. Ours are like steak knives. Cut yourself, and you'll bleed. Except for those Central Park ice skates, New York's got everything."

Lundqvist Swedish Interview (2006)

Henrik and his dog, Nova





NHL goalie Henrik Lundqvist, 24, on hockey, and the relationship of being one of the world's most beautiful


He has been chosen as one of the world's most beautiful people.

But his girlfriend Therese Andersson was not impressed.
"She just laughed," says NHL pro Henrik Lundqvist when Sunday hits him in New York.


CLASSY PAIR. Henry and his girlfriend Therese Andersson has been together for five years. They met in Göteborg, but Therese is now living with Henry in New York.



Should we generalize Henrik Lundqvist has his old kindergarten teacher in Åre to thank for NHL career.
- We had some teachers who themselves played ice hockey and cold water in a sandbox for us. At recess, we rushed out and tried to skate. I was four or five years and will remember that I was terribly poor and very frustrated. For a while I refused even to go to it was so bad, "said Henrik Lundqvist.

Players in the New York Rangers may not have sex before the game. Truth or myth?
-There are no rules for that. It is a myth. The only rule we really have is the clothing rule. When we travel, we must always have the suit and the game is the suit with a tie in force. I think it's good. I was almost the only one who had it at home in Sweden. Many others had soft ice in the bus. I like to dress me up before matches so that one feels that there is something special.

As Therese said, your girlfriend, when you were elected to one of the world's 100 most beautiful people by People magazine?
"She just laughed. No cake, not even a happy birthday.
My brother then, he was sur? You see, after all the same and he also play for an NHL club.
- No, he just laughed, too.

Are you selfish off the field as well?
- I'm probably a little ego even as a person,

http://blip.se/?load=/blogg.aspx!BlogId=40385$ArticleId=1503591

Henke: "Rangers would like us to appear" (Swedish Interview 2008)

Henke: "The best edition of the Rangers since I came here"
New York Rangers goalie Swedish star has three years in a row, been nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the prize to the NHL's best goalie.
Olympic gold in Turin in 2006 has also given 26-year-old Gothenburg (born in Åre, admittedly) heavy status in North America.
Goalkeepers have a reputation for being odd, bordering on anti-social. Not Henke.
He loves the crowd and has quickly become a popular celebrity in Manhattan.

Market players
Something that the New York Rangers do not mind.
- No, the club's marketing department is working actively for us to appear in other contexts outside of hockey and Madison Square Garden. Preferably in fashion magazines and on Oprah, "says Henke.
There is an explanation.
- Hockey is not the most popular sport in the United States. Here in New York, we compete with the baseball team, the Yankees and Mets, Knicks basketball clubs and the Nets, and so has the city two American football teams, Giants and Jets.
- You have to be visible and in the competition, it is not easy for hockey.
When Lundqvist came to the Rangers fall of 2005 some teammates looked askance at his clothes.

Tight costumes
- Yes, I got some funny looks and hear comments on a regular basis. Many were not accustomed to more tight European suits and looked inquiringly out when I got dressed up to the matches.
Today, Henke got the whole team to dress better.
- It is certainly no longer wonder why I go dressed as I do. The European fashion has been proposed through here on a broader front now.
What do you do with clothes that make you always look so well tailored look like?
- I often take my newly purchased jackets and trousers to a tailor around the block and get them sewn. They get a little tighter, looks a bit more snazzy out or what to call it.
When magazines like Men's Journal sports celebrities looking for a story Rangers are quick to sell Henrik Lundqvist.

"Good city of fashion"
- It's fun to be with, so long as it does not infringe on hockey and it does not.
How much you shop?
- I like clothes shopping, it is no secret. But I can not say that I keep up with all the trends and so. I am just trying to dress myself decently. And New York is a great city when it comes to fashion.
Who else on the team has good fashion taste?
- A lot of guys dress pretty well, somebody like Canadian Aaron Were definitely belongs to that group.
Favorite designers?
- I have worked with some Swedish brands like Tiger, Atlas, and then some.
You moved last fall into a new duplex apartment in Manhattan?
- That's right. This is my third apartment since I came to the United States. The first year I lived out in White Plains, a suburb close to the training rink. Then I bought an apartment on the Upper West Side here in Manhattan and now I have bought an apartment in the district of Hell's Kitchen.

Live close to teammates
When Anders Hedberg and Ulf "Lill-Pröjsarn" Nilsson played in the Rangers did not play the club would stay in Manhattan? We found the temptation was too great when it came to nightlife.
- Today, the management says nothing about where we should live. We are a dozen players, who live within a few blocks from each other here on Hell's Kitchen.
What do you do at leisure?
- A lot of different stuff. I like to play guitar, I like to go on the fair and thoroughly accommodating dinners and events. It is seldom I sit at home idle, there's a lot of TV to watch, if nothing else.

Can remain
How is it to be dog owners in my town?
- It's actually easier to have a dog in New York than in Sweden. We have just a few blocks up to Central Park and there is one area where dogs can run free until nine o'clock in the morning, so where do I and my girlfriend Therese often our dobberman Nova.
You're a New Yorker now, you can see yourself live in Manhattan for a career?
- Maybe not full time, but I can see myself keep an apartment here and have something to come back to. The more time you spend here the more you appreciate the city.


http://hockey.expressen.se/nhl/1.1415312/henke-rangers-vill-att-vi-ska-synas

Lundqvist Pulled as Rangers Lose Fourth in a Row

NEWARK — As soon as he plopped on a stool at the end of the Rangers’ bench, done for the night even though it was only the second period, Henrik Lundqvist had a towel draped over his shoulder by an equipment manager. Uncharacteristically, Lundqvist angrily flung it off.

If it happens on ice and it involves hitting and scoring, The Times's Slap Shot blog is on it.
Go to the Slap Shot Blog
Lundqvist, a goaltender who needs to continue to play well if the scoring-challenged Rangers want to grind their way into the Stanley Cup playoffs, was not so stout Wednesday, giving up five goals on 17 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Devils at Prudential Center.

“I just felt, you know, it was a tough night,” Lundqvist said. “I don’t think I should analyze it too much. Just move on.”

A victory would have inched the Rangers (29-29-9) within a point of the idle Boston Bruins, who are in eighth place in the sluggish Eastern Conference. But the Rangers lost their fourth game in a row, and the Bruins have two games in hand.

Rangers Coach John Tortorella pulled Lundqvist at 15 minutes 19 seconds after he gave up a goal on a wrist shot by left wing Brian Rolston that dribbled into the net. Right wing Jamie Langenbrunner had tipped a shot past Lundqvist at 13:06, breaking a 3-3 tie.

But Lundqvist did not get much help before he was replaced in a game for the first time since Jan. 23. Langenbrunner was alone in front of Lundqvist. Rolston’s goal followed a Rangers turnover and a four-on-one Devils rush.

“It’s been this way throughout most of the year,” Tortorella said. “It’s been the inconsistency.”

The Devils’ fans in the sellout crowd of 17,625 began taunting Lundqvist after he gave up a rebound goal to Rob Niedermayer 4:16 into the game. But the lead, and the chant, lasted for 57 seconds because Vinny Prospal scored for the Rangers.

The Rangers fell behind again at 18:17 because they could not clear the puck from their zone. A shot by Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador from the right point appeared to deflect off Olli Jokinen’s skate in the slot and scooted past Lundqvist for Salvador’s fourth goal of the season.

“I thought we played with more intensity,” Devils Coach Jacques Lemaire said. “We showed we really wanted to win tonight more than I’ve seen lately.”

Less than four minutes after Brodeur stole a goal from Jokinen by tipping away his shot with the tip of his stick, Erik Christensen tied the score at 2-2 in the second period for the Rangers.

Zach Parise whacked in his 31st goal on a power play to put the Devils ahead, 3-2, but Brandon Prust tied the game again 37 seconds later.

Then the bottom fell out for Lundqvist and the Rangers, who had a measly 19 shots on goal. After Alex Auld entered the game, Lundqvist tilted back his mask, shaking his head. Chris Drury, the Rangers’ captain, smashed his stick on the boards at the end of the second period.

“Seems like that’s how it’s been going since the break,” Drury said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/sports/hockey/11nhl.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

What Henrik Drinks During & After Games

Lundqvist Brillant Glove Save vs. Malkin

Should Henrik Lundqvist be the Rangers Captain?

Hey, everyone. The following article was written by me for one of my classes and I decided to post it here as it is obviously about Henrik. Let me know what you think. Thanks.





Oh, Captain, My Goalie?

Last night, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers played a remarkable game vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. Although the Rangers ultimately lost the game in overtime, Lundqvist made a statement- and not just with his outstanding play.

He saved an impressive career- high 50 shots, but perhaps what was even more impressive was the leadership role he exhibited when he confronted opponent Sidney Crosby. Crosby is regarded as one of the best players in the entire league. Lundqvist felt that Crosby embellished a fall from a hit by the Rangers Marc Staal in an effort to draw a penalty. "Yeah, he went up with his arms and really played it to get the call so I told him to stand up," Lundqvist said. "I understand that the refs need to protect the star players, but I didn't think he should have used it then."

“I just thought it was a bad call, and I thought that he played it,” Lundqvist said, referring to Crosby, who scored the gold-medal-winning overtime goal for Canada against the United States on Sunday. “I told the ref he’s a great player and should be protected, but he shouldn’t use it either.”
It is a rare sight to see a goalie get involved in a play like that. Lundqvist showed who the true leader of this team really is. Sure, Chris Drury is captain of the Rangers, but Lundqvist is the one who actually deserves that honor. If fellow goaltender Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks can be the captain of his team- why can’t Lundqvist be the captain of his? In many ways, he already is.

Anyone who has followed the Rangers as the season has progressed can tell you that the team clearly lacks in the leadership department. Earlier this season, when the Rangers were going through a terrible losing streak the player who called a players only meeting before a game vs. the rival N.Y Islanders and then did most of the speaking during the meeting- was none other than Henrik Lundqvist. Not captain Chris Drury. The Rangers losing streak ended that night. Saved by Lundqvist, again.

ESPN The Magazine Interview

OUTTAKES

Dan Patrick enters the crease with Henrik Lundqvist.


DP: The Hives or ABBA?

HL: That's a tough one. The Hives.

DP: Are you embarrassed by ABBA?

HL: No, it's good music. They've done so much for Sweden. People still talk about them.


DP: What's the difference between Swedish meatballs and Italian meatballs?

HL: I guess the Swedish ones are smaller.

DP: So are you worried, as a man, that you have to say your meatballs are smaller?

HL: I'm not sure about Italian meatballs. I just know Swedish meatballs are delicious.


DP: Better-looking women in Sweden or the United States?

HL: I have to say Sweden.

DP: Yeah, can't blame you there.


DP: Darius Kasparaitis seems nuts.

HL: He's got a nice car, though. A Bentley.

DP: Wow. I've heard that when you start a Bentley, it sounds like a rocket ship.

HL: Yeah, it's got a V-12 or something.


DP: Goofiest thing you've thought about in goal?

HL: Things I'm going to do the next day, something I'm going to buy. Like a guitar.

DP: If you could play guitar like anyone ...

HL: I always liked Slash. He's a skilled guy.

DP: Guns N' Roses, huh?

HL: My big sister listened to them when I was, like, 10 years old. I thought they were cool.


DP: So ... your wardrobe. You dress like the Beatles did in the '60s: skinny ties and tight suits.

HL: And boots. People dress differently in Europe. It's not very common here in the States.


DP: Have you ever put your gold medal in a CD player to see if it plays?

HL: No.


DP: Are you a lover or a fighter?

HL: Probably a lover. I can fight, but I have to be really mad.

DP: What if a guy shows you up? Say Ovechkin scores on you and celebrates a little too much near the net.

HL: I would probably hit him with a stick on his calf. It's easy to hurt them there.


DP: What're your thoughts on fighting other goalies?

HL: Sometimes it's better to go at a big guy. I heard Ottawa goalie Ray Emery is a fighter, so ...

DP: So you stay away from him. But Theodore, Brodeur--you could take them?

HL: We'll see.




http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3211061

Lundqvist Confronts Crosby Video Footage 3/4/2010

Henrik Lundqvist Swedish Olympic Interview

Lundqvist Heads the Puck at Olympics

More on Lundqvist vs. Crosby

While attempting to circle behind the Rangers net without the puck, Crosby was cross-checked to the ice by Staal, who was headed to the penalty box for the infraction. After the whistle blew and before Crosby could get up, Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist skated over and said something to the Penguins captain, who cross-checked Lundqvist -- and that set off the fireworks.

Brandon Dubinsky jumped into the mix and nailed Crosby, and everyone on the ice piled into the scrum near the glass.

Staal received two minutes for the original cross-check, Dubinsky got two minutes for roughing, and Crosby picked up two minutes for cross-checking Lundqvist.

Lundqvist believed Crosby was embellishing the hit and milking it by staying down too long. Crosby said it was anything but a dive, and he was upset that Lundqvist left his crease to confront him about it.

"When guys talk on the ice, I'd like to leave it there," Crosby said after the Penguins earned a 5-4 victory. "I didn't like the fact that he came over. I thought that it wasn't right. I got a good cross-check in the ribs that didn't feel too good and the last thing I expected was him standing over me. I let him know how I feel. And I'm sure if he wants to tell you that's up to him, but I'd rather keep that to myself. I don't think there's any point in really starting that.

"But I was surprised and I didn't like it."

Lundqvist didn't hold back when asked if he thought Crosby took a dive.

"Yeah," said Lundqvist, who threw his arms over his head as if to give a visual example of what he was talking about. "He went up with his arms and really played it out and I told him to stand up. But he's a great player and obviously refs are going to be hard on that. And refs need to make sure star players are protected. But I don't think you should use it though."

When asked if he had seen this from Crosby in the past, Lundqvist said, "Arms up in the air? Yeah, I've seen it a bunch of times. I think I've seen it in so many games that I got a little frustrated."

It appeared on replays that the hit was plenty hard enough to knock down Crosby, who didn't seem prepared to absorb the blow. Lundqvist clearly felt otherwise.

The Penguins received a power play out of that melee, and they converted during a 5-on-3 advantage after Michal Rozsival joined Dubinsky and Staal in the penalty box.

During the third period, Lundqvist and Crosby came together after a whistle once again. Lundqvist made a catching-glove save, but Crosby took a swipe at Lundqvist as he skated past him. Lundqvist swung back, only to catch air.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=520207

Henrik Lundqvist stops 50 shots, but Rangers fall in OT

NEW YORK – Henrik Lundqvist proved to Sidney Crosby and the Penguins why he, too, has an Olympic gold medal. And that he won’t shy away from chippy play.

But despite his brilliant play, the Rangers still lost, 5-4, in overtime as they gave up a season high 55 shots – they were outshot 19-1 in the third period and held without a shot in overtime – and Lundqvist made a career high 50 saves. The Rangers, playing without leading scorer Marian Gaborik (groin) for the third straight game, took a season-low 16 shots.

Evgeni Malkin scored the winner at 3:42 of overtime, trickling a shot past Lundqvist, who led Sweden to the gold in 2006 and engaged in a game-long skirmish with Crosby, the Canadian hero for his overtime golden goal against Team USA this year.

The Rangers (29-27-8) had a three-winning streak snapped and lost for the fifth time in six games to the Penguins (38-22-4).

Among the better of Lundqvist’s saves came when he smothered Malkin’s deflection in the slot at 6:30 of the third period and the Rangers maintaining a one-goal lead. Midway through overtime he gloved Malkin’s blast with the Penguins on a power play and Chris Drury having lost his stick.

Alex Goligoski had tied the game at 4-4 at 11:59 of the third on a sharp-angle shot from the left that deflected in off defenseman Marc Staal’s skate.

The Rangers got their only shot in the third period by Olli Jokinen at 15:23.

It was the first game back at the Garden since the Olympics and the participants were honored during the first period, with Crosby booed loudly.

The expected animosity toward the Penguins captain only grew after an incident with Lundqvist at 4:10 of the first period. Crosby slid into the boards after contact with Staal, who was called for interference.

Lundqvist skated behind his net to say something to Crosby after the apparent dive and Crosby responded by shoving his stick into Lundqvist’s chest, drawing a cross-checking penalty and prompting Brandon Dubinsky to attack Crosby.

Their battle continued at 3:12 of the third period after Lundqvist gloved a shot. Crosby skated by the crease and tapped Lundqvist’s pads and the goalie missed a swipe at Crosby with his stick. Lundqvist also took a light swing at Crosby as he skated past the crease on an offsides at 8:12 of the third period.

The Penguins took 11 of the game’s first 13 shots but the first period ended in a 2-2 tie after Drury’s power play goal at 14:39. Drury battled for the puck at the crease after Michael Del Zotto’s shot was blocked and was able to slip a backhander past Marc-Andre Fleury’s right pad after going to his knees.

Fleury was pulled at 12:49 of the second period after allowing four goals on 12 shots. Brandon Dubinsky gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead when his power play blast from the left faceoff circle hit off the far post and rebounded in off Fleury’s back.

Mike Rupp brought the Penguins within 4-3 at 14:23 off an odd-man rush with Crosby.

Drury said before the game he wasn’t thinking much about seeing Crosby again so soon after the Olympics. But he is a strong advocate of the NHL’s continued participation in the Games.

“I don’t see how you couldn’t after that,” Drury said.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/Henrik_Lundqvist_stops_50_shots_but_Rangers_fall_in_OT.html