The National Hockey League announced today that Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been selected to participate in the 2018 NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 28 in Tampa Bay.
Lundqvist has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the fourth time in his career, and he has been chosen to play in four of nine NHL All-Star Games the league has held since his rookie season in 2005-06. In addition to being selected to play in this year's All-Star Game, he played in three consecutive NHL All-Star Games in 2009, 2011, and 2012.
The 6-1, 180-pounder has appeared in 35 games this season, posting a 19-10-4 record, along with a 2.52 GAA, a .924 SV%, and 2 SO. Lundqvist ranks fourth in the NHL in saves (1,032), is tied for fifth in appearances, is tied for seventh in wins, ranks ninth in SV%, and is tied for 10th in shutouts this season. He also ranks fifth among NHL goaltenders who have appeared in at least 20 games this season in SV%. Among goaltenders in the Metropolitan Division, Lundqvist ranks first in SV% and saves, ranks second in appearances, is tied for second in shutouts, and ranks third in wins and GAA in 2017-18. Lundqvist has been selected as one of the game's Three Stars in 17 of his 35 appearances this season.
Lundqvist has accomplished several feats and has reached several milestones through the first half of the 2017-18 season. He passed Glenn Hall for sole possession of ninth place on the NHL's all-time wins list on Oct. 31 vs. Vegas, and he passed Tony Esposito for sole possession of eighth place on the NHL's all-time wins list by earning his 424th career NHL win on Jan. 6 at Arizona. Lundqvist earned his 419th career win as a Ranger on Dec. 9 vs. New Jersey, passing Esposito for the second-most wins a goaltender has earned with one franchise in NHL history. He also made his 20,000th career NHL save on Dec. 13 at Ottawa, becoming the 15th goaltender in NHL history to accomplish the feat. Lundqvist posted an 11-game home winning streak from Oct. 31 vs. Vegas - Dec. 19 vs. Anaheim, becoming the second goaltender in Rangers history to register an 11-game winning streak or longer at home. Lundqvist has made at least 30 saves in nine consecutive appearances from Dec. 15 vs. Los Angeles through his last appearance on Jan. 6 at Arizona, marking the first time in his NHL career that he has made 30 or more saves in at least nine straight appearances. Lundqvist has posted a .900 SV% or better in each of his last 13 appearances (Dec. 1 vs. Carolina through Jan. 6 at Arizona), and his streak of 13 consecutive appearances with a .900 SV% or better is tied for the second-longest of his NHL career (his career-best is 14 consecutive appearances from Jan. 17, 2012 - Feb. 27, 2012). He made 31 saves and earned a win at the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1 against Buffalo, becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to earn four career wins in regular season outdoor games. In addition, Lundqvist is one win away from becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to earn at least 20 wins in each of his first 13 NHL seasons, as well as the first goaltender to earn 20 or more wins in 13 consecutive seasons at any point during an NHL career.
The Are, Sweden, native has appeared in 777 career NHL games over 13 NHL seasons, all with the Rangers, posting a 424-259-80 record, along with a 2.33 GAA, a .920 SV%, and 63 SO. Lundqvist is the Rangers' all-time leader in several categories, including appearances by a goaltender, wins, shutouts, and saves. He is the NHL's all-time leader in wins by a goaltender who was born outside of North America, and he is the fastest goaltender to reach 400 career NHL wins in league history (727 appearances). Lundqvist is a five-time finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12, and 2012-13), and he won the Vezina Trophy in 2011-12. Lundqvist, who was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player in 2011-12, was selected to the NHL's First All-Star Team in 2011-12, the NHL's Second All-Star Team in 2012-13, and the NHL's All-Rookie Team in 2005-06.
