BOSTON — It is The King’s throne once again.
Eight weeks to the day since being struck in the throat by a shot from Carolina’s Brad Malone and 54 days after his last game, Henrik Lundqvist is returning to the Rangers’ net, getting the start for Saturday afternoon’s game here against the Bruins.
“Hank was on the ice [Friday] with six or seven shooters and said he felt good,” coach Alain Vigneault said before the match. “I felt [starting him] was the smartest thing to do.
“I told him to go out, work hard and have fun.”
The Rangers have climbed to the top of the NHL in Lundqvist’s absence, going 18-4-3 since he defeated the Panthers on Feb. 2. Cam Talbot, scheduled to start Sunday afternoon’s Garden match against the Capitals, went 16-4-3 with a 2.16 GAA and .929 save percentage as the interim No. 1, and Mackenzie Skapski won both his starts while allowing a sum of one goal as the temporary back-up.
Lundqvist was medically cleared to rejoin his teammates for practice sessions on March 17 after a panel of physicians found the torn blood vessel in his neck had completely healed. He has had only one full practice plus one full morning skate plus a few smaller sessions, such as the one on Friday.
“Hank is a competitor, he always finds a way,” Vigneault said. “I’m sure he’s going to find a way today.”