Hartnett: Looks Like Another Year And The Same Bitter Story For Lundqvist
By Sean Hartnett
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Unless a miracle happens, Henrik Lundqvist is set for another summer of disappointment.
The situation is looking increasing gloomy for the Rangers, who are staring at a 3-1 series deficit after being rocked 5-0 by the Penguins on home ice in Game 4 on Thursday night.
Granted, the Rangers have been in this exact situation in each of the past two seasons and rallied. Last spring, the Blueshirts became the only team in NHL history to win a series after falling into a 3-1 hole in back-to-back seasons. On both occasions, the Blueshirts came off the ropes swinging like Rocky.
This season's edition of the Rangers appear to be missing the required compete level, the speed needed to score off the rush, any form of defensive structure and anything resembling competent special teams. On top of all that, Lundqvist has seen better days. He was chased at 6:04 of the second period of Game 4 after surrendering four goals on 18 shots.
"I'm not going to analyze it too much. I'm just going to say I was not good enough," Lundqvist said Thursday night. "It was just a really bad game. I need to be better, simple as that. I don't need to say more than that. It's disappointing, there's no question.
"All we can do now is go to Pittsburgh with a mindset that we have to win that game or the season is over," Lundqvist added. "We are playing a really good team. Obviously, it's my job to be there when we have breakdowns but I was not good enough today. I'm going to go to practice tomorrow, work hard, and try to be on top of it in the next one. We're going to need it."
Lundqvist is permitted a hiccup or two given the way he's willed this franchise to greatness from the jaws of defeat time after time. It shouldn't be all on him. It's up to his teammates to pick up the baton when Lundqvist's game falls off, but they've barely tested Penguins rookie goaltender Matthew Murray.
There must be a part of Lundqvist that looks at the teammates in front of him and longs for the steadiness and composure of Anton Stralman, and the steely determination of Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards. Then he focuses his gaze on ex-Ranger Carl Hagelin jetting down the wing in a black and gold Pens sweater – a player who excelled at puck pursuit and whose lightning speed ideally fit Alain Vigneault's uptempo system.
And it's not just the big pieces that are missing, either. The Rangers sure could use the big body of Benoit Pouliot, who excelled at puck retrieval and flourished in the cycle game. They miss Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett types on their fourth line -- two possession-strong forwards who complimented Dominic Moore and helped the line devour tough minutes.
Through the tightening squeeze of the salary cap and the advances of Father Time, this Rangers team doesn't appear to possess the cast of characters or the fight-back needed to pull off another improbable comeback. It seems Lundqvist is destined to sit in front of the cameras with a dejected look on his face as he attempts to explain how this team failed to live up to expectations.
Lundqvist remains a Ted Williams or a Dan Marino figure of his sport -- a dominant player of his era deserving of a championship ring without the supporting cast required to help take him to the mountaintop. He deserves better and with every passing year of disappointment, the window gets closer to closing.
King Henrik deserves his day in the sun. He deserves his career-defining crown.
Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey
