COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Henrik Lundqvist starts Saturday’s home opener against the Blue Jackets after having gotten the call for Friday’s match against the same team, the King will have played as many back-to-backs as he did all last season.
The three straight starts to open the season after Friday’s 4-2 victory over the Jackets and Wednesday’s 3-2 victory in Chicago are part of the master plan to get Lundqvist off to the quick getaway coach Alain Vigneault has talked about since the day before training camp commenced.
“I had a long conversation with Benny [goaltending coach Benoit Allaire] about what plan he believed would be best for Hank,” Vigneault said after the Blueshirts practiced in Chicago before flying here.