Henrik Lundqvist wins 400th NHL game

NEW YORK -- New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist became the 12th goalie in NHL history to win 400 games by making 32 saves in a 4-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Lundqvist is the fastest in history to reach the milestone (727 games). He joins Martin Brodeur, the NHL's all-time leader in wins with 691, and Hall of Famer Tony Esposito as the only goalies to win 400 games with one franchise.

"I'm just really proud and I'm really thankful for the opportunity," Lundqvist said. "This organization means so much to me and they've given me this opportunity to play a lot of hockey. It's been 12 years where I've been getting a lot of starts and I've had a lot of good teammates throughout the years. You think of them right now obviously because they're part of it as well. I will definitely enjoy this tonight and kind of reflect a little bit before you go back to work Sunday] morning."
**WATCH: [All Avalanche vs. Rangers highlights**
Lundqvist's 400th victory was also the Rangers' fifth consecutive win, including the past four at home. New York (36-18-1) got it by scoring three goals in the third period, two in the first 5:36.
Kevin Klein scored his second of the game at 2:50 with a rising slap shot over Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard's right shoulder. Rick Nash scored the game-winner at 5:36 on a redirection from the slot. Kevin Hayes added an empty-net goal with 1:38 to play.
Lundqvist made 17 saves in the third period.
"In the second our execution slipped and they came on," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "[Lundqvist] had a couple saves to make and then in the third I think our guys really got back to playing with speed and a little bit more authority on the ice."

Klein scored his first goal of the game 2:26 into the first period, but the Avalanche (15-35-2) took a 2-1 lead on goals from Gabriel Landeskog and John Mitchell on back-to-back shots bridging the first and second periods.
Landeskog scored on a one-timer to tie the game at 1-1 with 15.2 seconds remaining in the first period. Mitchell beat Lundqvist with a deflected shot through his five-hole at 3:01 of the second.
The third period was a problem for the Avalanche, as it has been all season. They have been outscored 64-32 in the third.
"Again, in the third, I didn't think we were sharp, I didn't think we were hungry," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "There wasn't enough intensity and urgency on the play-by-play in the game. In the final eight minutes we turned it back up a notch and then we got hungry again. You can't come in and play 28-35 minutes and expect to win."

Goal of the game

Nash parked himself in front and got his stick down at the perfect time to score his 16th goal of the season and his third game-winner. He redirected Derek Stepan's one-timer from the left-wing wall past Pickard's left skate.

Save of the game

With Colorado leading 2-1 late in the second, Lundqvist made a glove save on Francois Beauchemin's high slap shot from the top of the left circle. The puck popped out of his glove and off of Nash's hand, but Lundqvist came back across to stop the puck and cover it with 1:49 left.

Highlight of the game

The fans chanted "Hen-rik, Hen-rik, Hen-rik" as the clock ticked down. Lundqvist had to make a save with two seconds left, but he raised his arms as the buzzer sounded and was cheered loudly when he was announced as the game's first star.
"You hear the crowd, you get goosebumps, and it was just like my first game here when they chanted my name," Lundqvist said.

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Unsung performance of the game

Oscar Lindberg played only 8:10, but he had assists on both of Klein's goals. He won the faceoff that led to Klein's first goal and helped create the turnover that led to his second.

They said it

"Of course you think about all the people that helped you to this point, teammates, parents, and you get a little sentimental at times when you realize it really happened. At times it is a little surreal when you live this life, but I love it." -- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist
"[Lundqvist's] preparation and his focus are with the top players that I've coached. He wants to do well. He wants this team to do well. We got a great role model there as far as competing and working so I'm happy he got this done here tonight."-- Rangers coach Alain Vigneault

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Need to know

Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie skated in warmups but missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury. Bednar said Barrie might play against the New York Islanders on Sunday.

What's next

Avalanche: At the New York Islanders on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; MSG+, ALT, NHL.TV)
Rangers: At the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports, MSG, NHL.TV)