The New York Rangers found out the hard way about the value of having a good goalie. Rangers starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist has not played since February 2 as he has been dealing with a neck injury. The injury to Lundqvist appeared to be set to leave the Rangers at a clear disadvantage until the emergence of backup goalie Cam Talbot. Talbot went undrafted by the National Hockey League in 2010 when the Rangers signed him as a free agent. Talbot played in the Rangers minor league system until reaching the big club in 2013. But there was no way that Talbot was going to beat out the nine-time NHL All-Star in Lundqvist as far as being the Rangers top goalie. However Talbot has been doing his best Lundqvist impersonation this season.
Cam Talbot
When Lundqvist went out with his neck injury, the Rangers had a record of 29-15-4 and they were looking up at the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division. Now the Rangers are 47-19-7 and they have surpassed the Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan with an eye on their first division title since 2012. Talbot hasn’t missed a game in the absence of Lundqvist and he has become an anchor for the Blueshirts. Talbot is only allowing 2.16 goals per game which is currently tied for fourth in the NHL. This month alone Talbot has only had one game in which he has allowed more than two goals and with it the Rangers have only lost three games over that stretch. Now Talbot gives the Rangers something that they have not had in a long time which is depth at the goalie position.
In the past few seasons more than ever, some National Hockey League teams have been using tandem goalies just like National Football League teams use multiple running backs. Teams in the NHL have done this in the effort to keep their main goalie fresh coming down the stretch and heading into the playoffs. Lundqvist has been the heart and soul of the Rangers for so long and at times he has carried the team. But as good as Lundqvist is, he like anyone needs a break. For Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault he now has double indemnity at the goalie position. The Rangers are only allowing 2.23 goals per game this season which is second in the NHL. Teams that are facing the Rangers tend to fear Lundqvist as when he’s on, he is indeed a handful between the pipes. Now Talbot isn’t giving opponents of the Rangers a night off with his skills as well.
In defeating the Ottawa Senators this past Thursday night, the Rangers are heading back to the postseason. The Rangers fell three games short of winning the Stanley Cup Championship last season and overall they are playing like a team that has a bitter taste in their mouths about it. Lundqvist will return today and he’ll more than likely be eased back in as the Rangers starting goalie, but New York wouldn’t be where they currently are without the emergence of the young Mr. Talbot.
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