Lundqvist returns to Rangers to train ahead of Cup qualification

Henrik Lundqvist returned to training with the New York Rangers for the first time in phase 2 on Thursday.

The 38-year-old goalkeeper had trained in Sweden before arriving in New York last week.

“It feels good to be on the ice at the training center again,” Lundqvist wrote on his Instagram account. “A lot of the unknown at the moment, but hockey is fun, I know that!”

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The New York Rangers were 37-28-5 in the regular season (0.564 points percent) and will be number 11 in the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. You will be playing number 6 seed, Carolina Hurricanes (38-25-5, .596), in one of eight best-of-5 series. The winner goes into the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the loser has a chance at number 1 in the NHL Draft 2020 in the second phase of the NHL Draft Lottery.

The NHL season was interrupted on March 12 due to concerns about the coronavirus. Phase 2 of the Return to Play plan, small voluntary workouts in team facilities, started on June 8th. The training camps that are part of phase 3 are scheduled to start on July 13th. The games are scheduled to continue on August 1 in two hub cities that are yet to be announced.

Lundqvist was 3-0-0 with an average of 2.33 goals against the average and a saving of 0.947 percent against the Hurricanes this season, including 45 saves in a 4-2 win in Carolina on November 7th. He is 33-12-1 with a 2.00 GAA, 0.934 percent and two failures in 46 games against Carolina.

With the advent of the rookie goalie Igor ShesterkinLundqvist launched four of Rangers’ last 30 games from January 4 through March 11. Alexandar Georgiev is also an option.

Rangers coach David Quinn said he would only decide which goalkeeper would start game 1 after seeing them on the ice in phase 3 for multiple exercises and scrimmages.

“You can stand up for all three boys,” said Quinn. “There are many reasons to take ‘Shesty’, there are many reasons to start Hank (Lundqvist) and there are reasons to start ‘Georgie’. This is such an uncertain time that it has taken two and a half weeks that we will have before we drop the puck. “

Video: NYR @ DET: Lundqvist records 64th shutout in 1-0 win

Shesterkin made his NHL debut on January 7th. The 24-year-old was 10-2-0 with a 2.52 GAA and 0.932 percent savings in 12 starts, including 27 saves in a 5-2 win in Carolina on February 21.

Georgiev was 17-14-2 with a 3.04 GAA and 0.910 percent savings this season; He didn’t start against Carolina.

“Hank’s story matters, Shesty’s season matters,” said Quinn. “Everything matters. We will take everything into account when making this decision. For each player, the time we have between the start of training and the start of games will be crucial, but no more than our goalkeepers.”

The Rangers on Instagram also showed up Mika Zibanejad during training.

Instagram of @ hank30nyr: feels good to be on the ice in the training center again. A lot of unknowns at the moment, but hockey is fun, I know that! ???? #LGR