New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) is helped by a trainer after getting a stick to the face during the first period of a first-round NHL playoff hockey game against the New York Rangers in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Lundqvist left the game after the first period. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)
PITTSBURGH – The New York Rangers have recalled goaltender Magnus Hellberg from Hartford of the American Hockey League while star Henrik Lundqvist deals with a facial injury suffered in a Game 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.
Lundqvist sat out the final two periods of the 5-2 defeat after teammate Marc Staal's stick wedged between the bars on Lundqvist's mask. Lundqvist will be re-evaluated on Thursday. Backup Antti Raanta surrendered three goals on 19 shots in the first playoff appearance of his career.
Lundqvist has made 111 consecutive playoff starts for the Rangers. Game 2 is on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Hellberg has appeared in two NHL games, including a lackluster period against Washington on Dec. 20 in mop-up duty. Hellberg posted 30-20-3 record, along with a 2.40 GAA in 53 games in Hartford.
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