MONTREAL - The way he figures Henrik Lundqvist, the best goalie in the NHL will be on the ice at the Bell Centre tonight when Canadians get the Rangers Jersey in their first home game.
And it's not him.
For now, the franchise goaltender Rangers gives the crown to Carey Price.
"I start thinking about it now we play Montreal, a good team, and Carey, in particular," said Lundqvist The Record after practice Wednesday at Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, NY "The way he plays now, he is probably the best goalie. "
Price, 28, has the hardware to back the compliment Lundqvist after collecting four major awards in the playoffs after he went 44-16-6 with a 1.96 goals against average in 2014-15.
Price won the Hart Trophy (MVP), Vezina Trophy (top goalie), Ted Lindsay Price (most outstanding player as voted by his fellow players) while sharing the William Jennings Trophy (fewest goals allowed ).
"When you talk about a top player, goalkeeper or skater, it's hard to pick one," said Lundqvist, who won the Vezina in 2012 and was runner-up five times. "But the way he played last year, he's the guy.
"I think he is very composed, very technical," said Lundqvist. "I think about two years ago, he raised his game to another level. It has always been good, but now he is taken to another level."
Stellar price game continued in the beginning of this season, he won his first three starts with an average of 1.67 to Canadians that swept their season-opening four-game road trip. In 17 career starts against the Rangers, the price is 10-5-1 with a goals against average of 1.86.
Lundqvist, 33, who will make his fifth straight start and is 3-1-0 with a goals against average of 2.26, after Tuesday's 4-1 loss to visiting Jets, is 14-13-2 against life Canadians with a goals against average of 2.70.
The Rangers beat the Canadiens Jersey in six games in the final of the Eastern Conference in 2014, although the price was injured in Game 1 in a collision with Chris Kreider.
Lundqvist knows tonight's game is not for him in relation to price. But this confrontational aspect is always there.
"You always want to challenge yourself," Lundqvist said. "It is definitely one to try to make a game right now."
BRIEFS: Emerson Etem, acquired in the offseason for the Ducks left wing Carl Hagelin fast, seems about to debut his Rangers after being left out to start the season, but coach Alain Vigneault n has refused to confirm his fourth line configuration. It is likely Etem and the right wing Jesper quick, healthy scratch the last two games, will be dressed with Jarret Stoll A healthy scratch. ... The defender Dan Boyle will return in the range - and the first power play unit - after being left out for the first time since November 11, 2008. "I would not say it was a shock," he said Boyle, who has one assist in three games of their seats. "It's only been three games, but I did not play well."
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