Let’s not kid ourselves here. The Rangers might have carried lunch pails to work throughout the season, but their revival was forged predominantly through the spectacular work of two men – Jaromir Jagr and Henrik Lundqvist.
And now there’s the possibility neither will be on the ice against the Devils tonight at the Meadowlands in Game 2 of the opening-round playoff series that began with a 6-1 Blueshirt pratfall Saturday afternoon.
Jagr’s questionable status was anticipated in the aftermath of the left arm injury he sustained while killing a penalty in the waning minutes of Game 1 – perhaps a shoulder dislocation, though he was able to reach down and tie his own shoe laces before leaving the medical room after the game – but the uncertainty about the goaltender most certainly was not expected.
Indeed, following an intense practice session yesterday, Tom Renney almost casually revealed his intention to review the tapes of Game 1 last night with both Lundqvist and goaltending coach Benoit Allaire before deciding upon his Game 2 starter.
And while it would seem unconventional, to say the least, for Renney to sit his No. 1 after one game, the facts are that, a) the King failed to cope well with the traffic the Devils created in front all game, and has appeared frustrated by previous similar tactics against him following the Olympics; b) the goaltender has allowed 11 goals in his two games since returning from the hip flexor that sidelined him for 18 days prior to last Tuesday’s regular-season finale and does not seem to be 100 percent physically; and, c) backup Kevin Weekes was spectacular in two starts and two relief appearances in Carolina’s six-game, first-round victory over the Devils in 2002.
“He has a pretty good history there,” Renney said of Weekes, who allowed four goals in 206 minutes and recorded a 1-0 Game 6 shutout in New Jersey for the 2002 series clincher. “It’s in the back of my mind.”
In addition to needing an operative Jagr ASAP – tonight sure seems like a stretch – the Rangers need Lundqvist with a clear mind. A clear view of the puck wouldn’t hurt, either.
“[Saturday] was a tough day for me,” said Lundqvist. “But when I looked at the goals, I don’t know what I could have done differently.
“Two were into open nets. Two were on screens where I never saw the puck. But I’m not going to sit here and make excuses.
“I have to step up.”
The Devils scored five power play goals on 13 chances, so just about every analysis of the game is skewed. But Lundqvist or Weekes will have to do a better job of fighting through screens that often reached a critical mass of four or five players in the goaltender’s sightline on Saturday.
Jagr did not address the press yesterday, though he was at the rink for treatment. While every game is important, tonight does not loom as an elimination game. Meaning, the risk of playing Jagr outweighs the necessity.
“I’ll talk to the doctors, I’ll talk to Jaromir and we’ll make a decision,” Renney said. “He’ll have to be able to play with the pain. He’s a competitor. At some point, he’ll be ready and able . . . and able doesn’t necessarily have to be 100 percent.”
