NHL

Rangers’ Lundqvist returns to royal glory after rough start

The King’s crown was starting to be questioned.

Henrik Lundqvist already had been pulled from one game, and last night, 17:15 after the opening face off, there were moans from the Garden crowd, ones seldom heard in these parts for the regal netminder after he was beaten two of the first three shots he faced.

There was even a Bronx Cheer for Lundqvist rather than the customary “Hen-Rik” chants when he made a simple glove save. His 24-year-old counterpart, James Reimer, was the one standing on his head.

“It was a really tough first period,” he said. “I hardly touched the puck and two [goals] go in. The key for me was to stick to my game plan, don’t change anything.”

By the end of the night, those groans turned into cheers for Lundqvist, after the Rangers finally got to Reimer. Lundqvist made 15 saves, a few of them noteworthy, in the Blueshirts’ come-from-behind 5-2 victory over the Maple Leafs.

Just 6:25 in, Mikhail Grabovski beat Lundqvist with a slick stick handling move in front. Later in the period, James van Riemsdyk notched a power-play goal, flipping home a rebound.

“Mentally, it was a test for me,” he said. “I’m happy I battled through it. … Like, ‘Give me a break,’ was my feeling after they scored the second goal. I couldn’t believe it. But you have to stick with it, and I did.”

Lundqvist didn’t have to do too much after the rough start. He spent more time waiting for action as the Blueshirts methodically took the lead, getting two goals from Marian Gaborik and one apiece from Marc Staal, Mike Richards and Brian Boyle.

“I thought this was our best game so far,” Lundqvist said. “Our game is comingWe’re doing the right things out there.”

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner — the award given to the top goalie — Lundqvist was one of the biggest reasons the Rangers were considered a Stanley Cup contender entering the season. He was brilliant last year, yet five games into the lockout-shortened season, Lundqvist still is looking to regain his masterful form, sporting a none-too-impressive 3.47 goals-against-average.

Last night’s performance was a start, even if the Rangers’ dominant puck possession and the work in front of Lundqvist was as much a reason Toronto wasn’t able to build onto its lead as his play in net. The star goalie isn’t near where he expected to be at this point, but he does see positive signs.

“I need to push myself to get to where I need to be,” Lundqvist said. “It’s coming. I’m in the right positions.”