New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will not play on Thursday against the Flyers, with Cam Talbot set to make his NHL debut in Philadelphia.
Lundqvist is sidelined with what the team will only term a "minor" issue, while the Swedish backstop cagily insisted on his Twitter account that what ails him isn't serious.
"Not the start of the season I was looking for. But no looking back. Trying to stay positive and things will turn around for me/us. Regarding my day to day injury. Been dealing with it for 2 weeks, now was a good time to try and get back to 100%. Last few days it's been getting better with treatment and exercise."
The 31-year-old netminder has gone 2-4-0 with a 3.45 goals-against average, one shutout and .890 save percentage in seven appearances this season.
Talbot, recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League earlier this week, will get his first crack at the big time in a key contest against another struggling Metropolitan Division club.
"I basically told (Talbot) he's in tomorrow, to enjoy it, he's obviously waited for this opportunity a long time," said Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault.
The 26-year-old Ontario native was 4-0-1 with a 2.49 GAA in five games for the Wolf Pack in the early going.
Vigneault added that Jason Missaien, also fresh from Hartford, will be Talbot's backup, and Lundqvist will travel to Philly with the rest of his teammates.
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