Goalie Henrik Lundqvist returned to practice for the New York Rangers on Sunday and will make his preseason debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.
“It was a great feeling to come back here,” Lundqvist told the Rangers website. “I’ve been away for four months, so you miss the place; you miss the rink, the guys, the game, everything. I’m really excited to get going here.”
Lundqvist, 34, has been resting since Team Sweden was eliminated from the World Cup of Hockey 2016. He said he would play half of the game Monday in Philadelphia and one of the final two preseason games either Tuesday against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center or against the Flyers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
“I think that will be enough,” Lundqvist said.
Lundqvist had a .940 save percentage and 2.25 goals-against average in three World Cup games, helping Team Sweden reach the semifinals before falling to Team Europe 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 25.
“It was different, but it was fun,” Lundqvist said. “It was a great experience. It’s always fun to be around great players like that and great guys too. It was fun to get to know everyone but obviously to play the games too. It’s a great challenge.”
Lundqvist made an NHL-high 1,788 saves and had a .920 save percentage in 65 games last season. He helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight season and the 10th time in his 11 seasons in New York.
The Rangers were eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games in the Eastern Conference First Round, their earliest playoff exit since 2010-11, and Lundqvist was pulled in the New York’s final two playoff games. His 2.48 GAA in the regular season was the highest of his career and he had a 4.39 GAA in the postseason.
“You reflected and try to learn from last year, but then you put it behind you,” Lundqvist said. “What you learned from last year is consistency is really the key to being a top team in this league.”
(Reprinted with permission of New York Rangers)
