Rangers’ Lundqvist leaves game after taking stick to the eye
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist left Wednesday’s playoff opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins after taking a stick to the eye in the final minute of the first period.
Rangers blueliner Marc Staal’s stick popped up while defending in front of the net, catching Lundqvist’s head. It was enough to get between the spokes in Lundqvist’s mask, and the game was stopped while he was attended to by trainers.
Lundqvist finished the period, allowing a goal with 17 seconds left to Patric Hornqvist, but was replaced at the start of the second by Antii Raanta.
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This series is already no stranger to backup goalies as Pittsburgh Penguins starter Marc Andre Fleury is out due to lingering issues with concussions and Matt Murray is sidelined with an injury sustained during a game agains the Philadelphia Flyers game on April 9th. The injuries have left Jeff Zatkoff in net to making his playoff debut.
—Cait Platt