When the game at Madison Square Garden had ended 4-1 for the Rangers over the Canadiens on Friday night, Henrik Lundqvist dispensed with his customary post-victory jig coming out of the crease, the King later admitting to disappointment over losing what would have been his ninth shutout with 2:29 to go.
“Yes, at that and that he tricked me,” Lundqvist said of Tomas Plekanec, who fed to Rene Bourque in the slot for the shot that beat the goaltender rather than carrying around the net. “I thought he was going around the net and I didn’t see the guy coming.
“I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t make the read a little better.”
That aside, Lundqvist was sharp in his eighth straight start and appears to be regaining the elite form he had misplaced for a handful of games before Tuesday’s 3-2 victory in Minnesota. The Vezina front-runner and Hart candidate has allowed two goals or fewer in three straight and yielding three or more in seven of his previous 10 starts.
“In the last week, I feel that my game is coming,” said Lundqvist, who will play the remaining four if they’re all meaningful in the face for the Eastern title but likely would skip Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh if the Rangers have clinched by then.
One thing about this game — I was sharp for 59:45.”
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NYPD officer and Rangers’ fanatic Steven McDonald, for whom the Rangers have named their Extra Effort Award for performance “above and beyond the call of duty,” praised the club for its dedication before his son, Connor, also a NYPD officer, announced Ryan Callahan as the winner before the match.
“For a man like that, with all he’s gone through, to be proud of us—it’s humbling,” Brian Boyle said of Steven McDonald, who was shot and seriously injured in the call of duty in November, 1988. “It’s hard to describe that feeling.
“You get goose bumps. I’m sure Cally is really honored. He deserves it. We all try to follow suit and try to stand in line. He’s our leader.
“It’s a lot of fun to be a part of it for a number of reasons—the guys in the room, the fans we have, the city we’re in,” said Boyle, robbed point-blank by Carey Price with a minute to go.
“It’s kind of surreal. It’s been an honor to wear this jersey for three years. We’re blessed to be able to do this in this city. I have to pinch myself sometimes.”
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The Rangers went with five defensemen in the third, with Stu Bickel getting just two shifts including one in the final half-minute. … Brandon Dubinsky and Carl Hagelin each had five shots while Marian Gaborik had three plus four attempts that missed the net. … Callahan led with four hits, and Ryan McDonagh led with four blocked shots.
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The Rangers’ Magic No. is 1 relating to the Flyers for clinching home ice in the first round, a position the Rangers have not held in a postseason series since 1996, when they had that advantage in the opening round against Montreal. Rangers lost the first two games of the series before Mike Richter carried the club to four straight victories before a five-game Round 2 defeat to the Penguins.
The Flyers are home Saturday afternoon to play the Senators before going to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins Sunday afternoon. With the Magic No. to clinch the East at 3, Rangers could thereby lock up the conference title with a victory over the Bruins Sunday night at the Garden if the Penguins are beaten by the Flyers.
larry.brooks@nypost.com