New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist decided it was time for a new mask. He’s yet to lose in his new headgear.
The King’s new crown is undefeated. 5-0. Maybe he should have started wearing this one earlier in the season.
“It was time for a change” was Henrik Lundqvist’s reply when the New York Post‘s Brett Cyrgalis asked why he opted for the new mask.
Who knew all it took for Henrik Lundqvist to be his old self was a new mask?https://t.co/SDmG2llju2
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) November 9, 2017
Lundqvist normally will go through three or four different masks during a season. When he is done with a mask, he auctions it off for different charities that he is associated with.
David Gunnarsson, who creates all of the goalie cages Lundqvist wears, again designed this mask. You can see more of his work on his Twitter account, @artofdave.
#NYRangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's new mask for the upcoming season. Love the stained glass design of it. pic.twitter.com/57Bzlrf8id
— Hockey Chats (@NHLHockeyChats) August 5, 2017
https://t.co/kfvXEMHJM4 https://t.co/HlpIpehhBE
— David Gunnarsson (@artofdave) November 4, 2017
According to Cyrgalis, Lundqvist’s previous mask had a navy blue cage on the outside, but the inside of the pipes were painted white for better vision. This cage is all silver, and Lundqvist had the insides of the pipes sanded down so that there is less glare.
After making 31 saves in a 4-2 victory over Boston on Wednesday night, head coach Alain Vigneault told Cyrgalis “this was probably the best Hank has looked as far as, you know, in control.”
With the mask and the Rangers riding a five-game winning streak, what he did to the cage sounds like it was a brilliant idea. Up next for the King and his Rangers is a contest against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon.
