N.Y. Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist Wins #300; Ties Giacomin In Shutouts

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

KING HENRIK's

300

NEW YORK RANGERS: Henrik Lundqvist On Verge Of Rewriting The Blueshirts Record Books.

.............But, Sometimes Lasting Legacies Are A Mixed Bag Of Goods.

With Sunday's 3-0 Rangers victory over the Detroit Red Wings, goalie Henrik Lundqvist earned his 300th career win, and his 49th career shutout.  Lundqvist is now just one win away from tying Mike Richter (301) for the club lead, and is now tied with Ed Giacomin for the club lead in shutouts.

Henrik Lundqvist is now 32-years old.  Mike Richter retired at 36-years of age.  To date, Henrik has started 106 less games than Mike Richter totaled for the Rangers.  Richter retired with a 301-258 career record, and a .538 winning percentage.  Henrik now owns a 300-191 record, and currently sports a .611 winning percentage.  Of course, Mike Richter played prior to the institution of the shootout.  Richter was credited with 73 ties during his career, while Lundqvist technically has zero.

Henrik Lunqvist earned at least 30 victories in each of his first seven seasons.  He established a high of 39 victories during the 2011-12 season.  Mike Richter's best mark came during the 1993-94 Cup season, in which he posted 42 victories to lead the league.  He only achieved 30+ victories one other time in his career. Lundqvist on the other hand, has never achieved 40 victories - yet.  However, he did lead the NHL with 24 victories in last year's abbreviated season.

Mike Richter never recorded more than 5 shutouts in a season.  Henrik Lundqvist has twice led the NHL in shutouts, with 10 and 11 respectively.  Prior to unceremoniously being traded to the Red Wings, Hall of Fame goalie Eddie Giacomin spent 9+ seasons tending net for the Rangers, in which he recorded 49 shutouts, and led the NHL three times.

Giacomin achieved 30+ victories in a season 5 times, and his first four times came consecutively.  He led the league in wins three times, and established a career high of 37 wins during the 1968-69 season.  Eddie also earned the Vezina award for his 1970-71 season.

Henrik won the Vezina award for his 2011-12 season, while Mike Richter never managed to win the award.
Henrik also has earned gold and silver medals in the Olympics.

However, Mike Richter's name is on the Stanley Cup, and Eddie Giacomin at least competed for a Cup. Unfortunately, Henrik Lundqvist has yet to participate in a Stanley Cup series.

Recently acquired Martin St. Louis is just the latest in a long list of veteran players trying to get Henrik there.

sigh...



Mike.BTB