Mike Richter, the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup-winning goaltender, was eagerly awaiting Henrik Lundqvist versus Martin Brodeur in Game 1 of Rangers-Devils.
“You’re looking at two great goalies and a lot of pride and a lot of resson to have that pride. . .these guys are great,” Richter said Monday on ESPN radio. “They’re not good, they’re great, and they’re fun to watch.
“I only hope that the series has enough scoring chances to allow them to show the wares ’cause they’re incredible to watch. It’s a real treat.”
Asked how good Lundqvist is, Richter said: “This guy’s unreal. . .he’s been nothing but fantastic. And consistent. That’s the thing. I guess really when you think of Marty Brodeur, he’s been consistent, so consistent over all those years.
“So it is a really great goaltending matchup,” Richter said.
Richter believes that Brodeur’s easygoing nature helps him in high-stress situations and battling through fatigue. Richter, of course, outlasted the young Brodeur and the Devils on his way to the Cup.
“He once said, ‘What’s the big deal, why would I rest? ’cause I’m gonna have to be at the game anyway so I might as well be playing,'” Richter said. “It’s an indication of how at ease he is playing a game. To him, going to work is a walk in the park in a way. It’s helped him through his career a great deal.
“People have written him off, and he seems to keep coming back and back. Believe me, it is about teams when you play, and it’s also personal about the guy in the pipes across from you.
“And that’s one of those things that does happen – – when you’re playing against Michael Jordan, you measure yourself aainst him. When you played against Marty Brodeur people did that just as Marty did to Patrick Roy and everybody did against Domenik Hasek. It makes your life a lot harder, but it also probably makes them better goalies in the long run. And people are now doing it to Henrik.”
Richter – -surprise – picks the Rangers. “The Devils are just not gonna let you take a game or free,” Richter said, “so it is gonna be a war.”