Henrik Lundqvist to miss at least a month with neck injury

By Vinnie Criscenzo | Feb 6, 2015

Jan 31, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) is attended to by a team doctor and trainer after taking a puck to the throat against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will likely miss at least a month with a neck injury.

I can hear the sound of all Rangers fans banging their heads against the wall right about now.

According to The New York Post, New York Rangers and Vezina-winning goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will be out at least a month with a neck injury. He suffered the injury last Saturday during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes, when he took a puck to the neck off a shot from Hurricanes’ Brad Malone.

Lundqvist seemed to have his mask lifted up a bit from the stick of Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh as he was trying to clear a Carolina player out from in front of the crease. The stick lifted his mask which exposed his neck area.

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Henrik seemed to be in a great deal of pain and went down immediately from the shot. He stayed down for a couple minutes as he was being attended to by team medical personnel before being helped up and into the locker room for further examination. However, Lundqvist was able to come back and finish the game.

Not only was he able to finish the game Saturday, but he started and completed the following game against the Florida Panthers in a winning effort. So, it’s a bit surprising that the news came out today that Lundqvist will be out for a significant amount of time.

Lundqvist said he’s been dealing with some headaches and some light-headedness. It’s a neck injury, so a concussion is not a worry in this situation. The Rangers have also confirmed that he did not develop a blood-clot or have any nerve damage in his neck, so that’s all positive news. However, whatever the injury exactly is, it’s something that needs to be addressed and will take significant time to heal.

It also must be very disappointing for Lundqvist, who has been having a tremendous season so far for the Rangers. In 39 games played this season, Henrik has a 2.25 GAA and a .922 save percentage with 5 shutouts and 25 wins. He may not be a front-runner for the Vezina trophy this year with the unworldly play of Carey Price and Pekka Rinne, but he is most certainly in the conversation.

After a slow start by his team, Lundqvist has helped the Rangers to a 30-15-4 record and 64 points, which is good for third in the Metropolitan division.

In his absence, backup Cam Talbot will assume the number one position. Talbot has played extremely well for the Rangers in relief of Lundqvist. Backing up Talbot will most likely by 20-year old rookie MacKenzie Skapski, for now. Glen Sather may want to look for a veteran goaltender to temporarily backup Talbot while Lundqvist is out.

H/T to The New York Post for the information.

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