Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist explains net-flipping incident; won't apologize
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist spoke to the media on Monday and explained why he intentionally flipped the net over during a game.
By
Adam Gretz
•
2 min read
One of the strangest moments of the 2015-16 NHL season happened in Pittsburgh less than a week ago when New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist brought play to a halt by turning around and angrily flipping his own net over in his attempt to get a whistle from the referees. That move, which came just after Lundqvist was run over by his own teammate, not only got him the whistle he was looking for, it also resulted in a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game.
Lundqvist did not speak after the game, but Rangers coach Alain Vigneault indicated that his goalie was injured as a result of the collision and was simply trying to get the attentin of the referees to stop the game.
On Monday, Lundqvist spoke about the incident for the first time and defended his actions, via Justin Tasch of Newsday:
"When I realized the puck is in our end, I was not really ready to play. That was the truth," Lundqvist said. "I don't know how I came up with the conclusion to move the net, but that's what came up in my head, and I'm not gonna apologize for it because I was just not in a position where I could play the game. I needed a break."
Lundqvist said the referee initially asked him if he was OK and that he perhaps waited too long to say that he wasn't with the play already moving to the other end of the ice. He later added that he "needed a whistle" and that "if the ref's not going to give me one I'm gonna deal with it my own way."
He admitted he probably could have handled it differently but added that he was not thinking straight.
Other possible options (that are not as funny): Remove your mask, or just simply drop to the ice. If the goalie is down and looks to be injured, the referee is going to stop play every single time. Trying to yell at him to let him know you are injured as the play is coming your way is probably not going to be anywhere near as efficient, as Lundqvist found out.
Lundqvist stayed in the game and attempted to play through the injury for the remainder the second period (giving up three goals in three minutes) before leaving with neck spasms. The Rangers went on to lose the game 4-1. He has not played since but expects to be back in the lineup on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Here is a look at the play again.
David Leggio, a goalie in the AHL last season, tried a similar move in a game.
His move wasn't because of an injury, but because he felt he had a better chance to stop the automatic penalty shot he would have had to face according ot AHL rules than the oncoming 2-on-0 rush.
