Henrik Lundqvist continues to make history for the New York Rangers as he moved up on the all-time NHL wins list Saturday night.
How many times have we heard “save Lundqvist, Rangers win” from the great MSG broadcaster Sam Rosen? Well after the Rangers 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers Saturday night, we heard that save again but this time it was more special.
When the buzzer sounded Saturday night, Henrik Lundqvist officially collected his 438th career victory. He is now in sole possession of seventh place on the NHL’s all-time wins list passing the Hall of Famer Jacques Plante.
That’s @NHL win 438 for Henrik!
He now has sole possession of seventh place on the NHL’s all-time wins list passing Hall of Famer Jacques Plante! #NYR pic.twitter.com/57iM4kwSSs
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 18, 2018
Lundqvist needed to make 39 to get to this milestone, coming off a performance he would like back against the New York Islanders where he was pulled allowing five goals. It was the kind of performance that fans had become accustomed to throughout Lundqvist’s career.
This season the 36-year-old has not looked to have lost his step through 16 games. He has a 7-6-2 record with a .918 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average.
What is more impressive about this milestone is that all 438 wins have come with him in between the pipes as a Ranger. He is also the all-time franchise leader when it comes to wins as well.
Not many players are able to stick around long enough with one team to achieve milestones like this.
#NYR @HLundqvist30 with the game puck from win 438! pic.twitter.com/h4RRhiWBYe
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 18, 2018
The Rangers gave Lundqvist the opportunity to waive his no-movement clause a season ago, but the former seventh-round draft pick declined after he committed to New York full-time.
All of the accolades are great, but Lundqvist is still chasing the one thing that has seemed to elude him throughout his career, the Stanley Cup. He fell short in 2013-14 losing to the Kings in five games and has not reached the Stanley Cup Final since.
As the season progresses, Lundqvist will continue to make history as he is just seven wins shy of tying Terry Sawchuk for sixth place on the all-time NHL wins list. He also as a chance to reach the top five in wins all-time, needing 16 more to tie Curtis Joseph.
Lundqvist will start the hunt for win number 439 when the Rangers take on Dallas Monday night.
