Skip to main content

Rangers coach Alain Vigneault calls out Henrik Lundqvist for not making 'routine save'

Alain Vigneault (center) wasn't afraid to take his star player to task after Tuesday's game. (Scott Levy/Getty Images)

Alain Vigneault (Scott Levy/Getty Images)

Even Henrik Lundqvist, who won the 2012 Vezina Trophy (given to the league's best goaltender), isn't above Rangers coach Alain Vigneault's wrath.

After last night's 3-2 loss to the Devils, Vigneault was asked by reporters about New Jersey's second goal, which came on backhanded shot at a bad angle with 46.1 seconds left in the second period.

“I’m not quite sure what happened there,” Vigneault said. “It’s an easy first man on the puck. Mind you, it’s a routine save.”

SI WIRE: NHL general managers contemplating extended overtime

Lundqvist, who made 25 saves and was checked on by trainers after being hit in the arm with a shot later in the game, admitted he should have made the save despite one of his defenders being out of position.

The Rangers goalie is off to a somewhat rocky start this season, as he's tied for 20th in the league with a .915 save percentage, and has a 2.51 goals against average. New York is 9-9 this season, including 6-7 with Lundqvist manning the net and 3-2 without him.

MUIR: NHL Week 6 power rankings