With Henrik Lundqvist set to return for the New York Rangers on Sunday in Anaheim, Antti Raanta wanted to pass the torch off with a good showing, and that he did. The team is currently on their California road trip and visiting the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on Saturday was their first stop. The Finnish goaltender stopped all thirty shots as he shut out LA, 3-0.
Despite a turnover from Michael Grabner seventeen seconds in, the first period went scoreless. Derek Stepan opened the scoring for New York, followed by a power play goal from Ryan McDonagh to make it 2-0 New York after two. Rick Nash sealed the deal late in the third with an empty netter. It was an overall great game between Antti Raanta and Jonathan Quick, but it was Raanta who would reign supreme.
After missing the last two weeks with a hip strain, Henrik Lundqvist is more than ready to be back between the pipes. He told reporters on Friday, “I miss the game. I just want to play.” According to head coach Alain Vigneault, Lundqvist will start the final two games of the road trip, Sunday in Anaheim and Tuesday in San Jose.
The Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Pittsburgh Penguins have already claimed their spots in a highly competitive Metropolitan division. New York holds the first berth and a substantial lead in the Eastern Conference wild card standings, and if the Rangers win Sunday, they will punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
