If the NHL hadn’t called upon Henrik Lundqvist to represent the Rangers at the Jan. 26 All-Star Game in San Jose, Calif., perhaps the Blueshirts could have sent a hologram in his place, because the fact is the franchise’s entire anti-tanking program basically consists of writing the King’s name on the lineup sheet and then getting out of his way.
This was reinforced on Wednesday, when for one of the few times this season, Lundqvist not only was unable to prop up his team, but also cost the Rangers any chance they might have had against a resurgent Penguins team that scored four times on six shots within a second-period stretch of 9:16 before coasting to a 7-2 victory at the Garden.