King Henrik: Henrik Lundqvist responded in a big way making 38 saves to lead the Rangers to a 5-1 Game 4 victory evening the Eastern Conference Final against the Lightning.
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It would’ve been easy for Henrik Lundqvist to cave in. After allowing 12 goals in Games 2 and 3, the Rangers franchise netminder was under fire from panicked fans and some media. They wanted to know what was wrong with him.

Following giving up Nikita Kucherov’s long unscreened 27-footer that put the Lightning up two games to one, Lundqvist admitted that he didn’t pick it up while doubting his positioning against a very talented and explosive opponent. For the first time since we’ve seen him shine on Broadway for a decade, the unflappable goalie seemed to be questioning himself. Who wouldn’t after permitting as many goals in two games as he did in seven against the Caps last round?

What people quickly forget is that Lundqvist is human. He has off nights. We just aren’t used to seeing him have consecutive bad games. A city and its fans so panicked that some suggested starting backup Cam Talbot for Friday night’s crucial Game 4. A question even New York Post columnist Larry Brooks posed to coach Alain Vigneault on Thursday. No stranger to goalie controversies given his history in Vancouver, Vigneault laughed it off before adding that Lundqvist was his guy.

There was so much riding on the line last night. The Rangers could ill afford to fall behind 3-1 against a more dangerous Lightning as they had against the Caps. To a man, they knew they had to win Game 4 and come back home to MSG Sunday with the Eastern Conference Final tied 2-2. Without their best player, it doesn’t happen. Following a good first period which even featured a Rick Nash sighting- he scored at 17:18- the Rangers led 1-0.

The Lightning came out like Bolts of fire taking it to the Blueshirts at the start of the second. It took them about six seconds to win a faceoff and set up a shot. I’m exaggerating here but before you knew it, the shots were 7-1 Tampa. Lundqvist was tested often. He challenged more coming out to force Kucherov wide and deny Alex Killorn. Penalty trouble put the Rangers on the defensive. Both Marc Staal and Chris Kreider took bad penalties that allowed the Bolts to dictate.

Even following a big kill of a senseless Kreider offensive zone tripping minor, they came until finally Valtteri Filppula and Killorn combined to set up Steven Stamkos for a rocket that tied it at 11:30. With the Thunder Dome rocking, they continued to come looking for that surge they had pulverized Lundqvist with the last two games. It never came due to inspired play from the King. He was on his game turning aside 18 of 19 shots. That included bailing out teammates with Ryan McDonagh again struggling along with Dan Girardi. He made a big stop to deny a breakaway giving his team a lift.

”The last 48 hours or so, it’s been pretty tough trying not to overanalyze or complicate things soul searching,” Lundqvist said. ”I feel like the entire team stepped up. It feels so good when you’re feeling like you’re doing it together and not just one or two guys.”

Keith Yandle celebrates his goal that made it 3-1 late in the second with Rick Nash and Kevin Klein.
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Goaltending came into play. Unlike the wild shootout they lost in overtime on Wednesday, the Rangers had the decided edge in net. While Lundqvist was making huge saves at one end, you had Ben Bishop coughing up a bad rebound of a Kevin Klein shot right to Kreider, who steered it home for the go-ahead goal at 15:17. A play started by Keith Yandle, who had himself a game finishing with a goal and two helpers. Over the last two games, Yandle’s been the Rangers’ most effective defenseman tallying five points (1-4-5). Exactly what GM Of The Year candidate Glen Sather got him for.

”I think there was a lot of talk about him and about his play, but there wasn’t any doubt from within our dressing room. Hank has done this so many times before,” Vigneault said. ”We knew he was going to come out and do what he always does, give us a chance to win. And, that’s what he did again tonight.”

Kreider’s goal seemed to give them confidence. Finally settling down, they got another big shift from Nash who took the team out to a private screening of Entourage Thursday night as a distraction. It did wonders for Nash, who dominated a double shift with Tanner Glass and James Sheppard. Controlling the puck, he patiently fed Klein who dished across for a Yandle shot that was headed wide before taking a favorable bounce off Victor Hedman past Bishop for a 3-1 edge at 17:04. Glass did the work in front causing a distraction. He might not have gotten credit for a point but his hustle paid off.

Martin St. Louis finally celebrates a goal scoring on the power play after drawing a high-sticking penalty.
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Despite being outshot 19-6, the Rangers came out of the second plus-one leading the Lightning 3-1. It was mostly due to Lundqvist who finished with 38 saves stopping all 13 Tampa shots in the third. They also continued to find holes in Bishop’s game. That even included Martin St. Louis’ first goal of these playoffs. He got the monkey off his bag on a power play when he cashed in off a great misdirection pass from Derick Brassard firing a one-timer into an open side. The power play goal was started by some great hustle from Dan Boyle, who raced to keep a puck in and pass across to Brassard who faked shot and then had St. Louis for a finish that had to feel awfully sweet.

Clearly frustrated by the Rangers’ more edgy play that included an undetected Kevin Hayes chop on playoff star Tyler Johnson, the Lightning lost their discipline. Brenden Morrow was off for a hook when Yandle made another great play firing in front for a Hayes redirect into Bishop that Nash got a stick on prying the puck into the net for a two-goal playoff game with an assist. A nice turn of events.

”It’s just natural to grip your stick a little bit tighter and to not see the ice as well when you’re struggling,” Nash said. ”The puck doesn’t feel comfortable on your stick, so any time you can get a goal and get a little confidence it helps.”

One noticeable difference from this game compared to the previous two was the Rangers’ ferocity. While not perfect, they were more physical and got underneath the Bolts’ skin causing scrums including a somewhat entertaining shoving match between Carl Hagelin and former teammate Ryan Callahan. Hagelin also got in the face of Johnson with the outcome decided while McDonagh jousted with Ondrej Palat. Derek Stepan got an extra two for high-sticking and Kucherov got a misconduct.

Klein didn’t take kindly to Morrow interfering with Lundqvist in the final minute giving him a headlock. The Rangers stuck together. Glass also got in the face of Craig Paquette following a cheap hit on Sheppard with four seconds remaining. Finally, there was some animosity between the clubs. It only took four games.

Now comes a pivotal Game 5 back in Manhattan tomorrow night. The Rangers can take solace knowing they shutdown the Triplets limiting Palat, Johnson and Kucherov to three shots and no points. A big difference. They also know they have the better goalie who in a big spot, delivered once more. Lundqvist will have to continue to be great for them to advance. So will his teammates.