ST. LOUIS — Henrik Lundqvist sat at his locker yesterday, wearing a pad over his left collarbone after being hit there in Tuesday’s loss to the Stars.
Despite the discomfort, he knew it could have been a lot worse and said he would be ready for tonight’s game against the Blues.
“The collarbone is sore, but it’s fine,” said the goalie, who originally was unsure if the puck off the stick of Dallas’ Sheldon Souray had slammed him in the shoulder or collarbone. “I feel pretty good.
“It’s not the first time I got hit on the collarbone. I’m just glad it didn’t break, because at first you can’t really feel anything.”
And that’s good news for the Rangers, who open a three-game road trip tonight against the Blues at Scottrade Center.
“I just needed some extra protection in case someone decides to take a whack,” said Lundqvist, who doesn’t expect to be limited in net tonight. “No, it’s fine, but obviously you try to be ready for a high one. You don’t want to take one up there. … I’ll focus on the game, not the pain.”
St. Louis has won three straight and the Rangers are coming off a disappointing 1-0 loss to Dallas at the Garden.
Yesterday, they recalled 20-year-old defenseman Tim Erixon from Connecticut of the AHL, but John Tortorella said he was here primarily for insurance, since fellow defenseman Steve Eminger was hit in the arm with a shot on Tuesday.
“He’s smart,” Lundqvist said of Erixon, who played nine games with the Rangers at the start of the regular season before being sent down.
“That’s what stands out the most,” Lundqvist said. “I think it’s good when you’re under pressure that you have the ability to look up and make a play. It’s still a transition for him.”
Tortorella said Erixon may not play this time around, but that it still would be a valuable experience for a young player.
“It’s part of the process for a young kid,” Tortorella said. “I’m not sure how long he’ll be here … but it’s a good thing for him because he knows he’s close.”