Henrik Lundqvist was lucky to avoid serious injury after Mike Ribeiro's rising slapshot hit him hard in the mask late in the second period of the game between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals:
Henrik Lundqvist stunned by slapshot to mask
Lundqvist recovered quickly after Mike Ribeiro’s thundering slapshot hit the goalie up high.
Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Lundqvist was staggered, but managed to recover just enough to keep the puck out of the net. The period ended with the score still tied at 2 after the Capitals couldn’t convert on this close call.
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The Rangers have to be breathing a sigh of relief after this one, both for avoiding the goal-against and for Lundqvist seemingly escaping unscathed. The team entered Sunday in a fierce and crowded battle for the final playoff spot in the East, and losing their starting goalie to injury would have been a terrible blow to their chances of making the postseason.
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