Henrik Lundqvist says Cam Talbot's play took pressure off from rushing return

The good news for Henrik Lundqvist is that he his fully healed from the damaged blood vessel suffered during a Jan. 31 game after he took a puck to the neck. The risk is gone to further aggravate it and he’s able to take high and low shots now as he and the New York Rangers wait to see when he’ll return to the crease.

Losing Lundqvist for an indefinite period of time could have been a disaster for the Rangers, but Cam Talbot has stepped up. When “King Henrik” went out of the lineup, New York was 10 points behind the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks for the best record in the league and chasing the New York Islanders for the Metropolitan Division crown. They now sit two points behind the Ducks in the Presidents’ Trophy race and five points up on the Isles atop the division with three games in hand.

Being out of the lineup hasn’t been easy for Lundqvist, but watching the wins pile up has certainly helped soothe the pain.

“It’s been hard. It’s been a new situation for me,” Lundqvist said Monday night before the Rangers' 1-0 loss to Chicago. “It has definitely helped to watch the team play and can play the way that they’ve been playing, and winning. It’s been very impressive to watch. But it also made me more excited to get back into things, and you want to be a part of it. Hockey’s such a big part of what you do and when you don’t have it, you miss it.

“You feel a little lost when you’re gone that long.”

Lundqvist had been skating on his own but was cleared on Monday to begin practicing with his teammates. He’ll wear a special piece of equipment behind his neck for extra support, but doesn’t envision using it once he returns to game action.

With Lundqvist and his wife expecting their second child very soon, the netminder may join the Rangers when they travel to Ottawa and Boston late next week. There is, however, no timetable yet on when he’ll start again. “I just want to play games because I miss it so much,” he said.

While the Rangers won eight of Talbot’s first 12 starts, he wasn’t playing anywhere close to the level he’s been at since March began.

In his last seven starts, Talbot has only once allowed more than one goal in a game, posting five wins, a shutout and a .973 even strength save-percentage, which is tops among all goaltenders this month.

“I don’t want to rush back,” Lundqvist said. “Cam is playing great, so there’s not a stress factor there.”

Lundqvist added that he’s noticed an improvement in Talbot’s control and a rise in confidence since taking over the No. 1 job, and echoed a sentiment that many of his teammates have said over the last month.

“I’ve been impressed, but not surprised.”

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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