Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist prepares to start against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of their qualifying series at Scotiabank Arena on Aug. 1, 2020 in Toronto. Credit: Getty Images/Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo
If the Rangers’ rebuild continues apace and they contend for a Stanley Cup in the next few seasons, their swift exit from the 2020 qualifying round will be viewed as a minor mile marker in the process.
But future trivia-quiz writers also will recall a historic footnote to the final game of the three-game sweep by the Hurricanes:
There was Henrik Lundqvist in Toronto on Tuesday night, all dressed up in his backup goaltender gear but with nowhere to go.