Rangers’ Lundqvist leaves game after taking stick to eye

Watch as Henrik Lundqvist takes a stick in the mask from Marc Staal momentarily injuring his right eye and then lets in the first shot he faces.

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist did not come out for the start of the second period in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins following a scary incident late in the first.

With 48 seconds remaining in the opening frame, Lundqvist took an accidental stick to the eye courtesy of his teammate Marc Staal.

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Lundqvist writhed in pain on the ice but remained in the game. However, 30 seconds later he allowed a goal and the Rangers went down 1-0.

Backup netminder Antti Raanta replaced Lundqvist. Raanta went 11-6-2 with a 2.24 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 25 appearances (18 starts) in his first season with the Rangers.

The Penguins had to turn to third-stringer Jeff Zatkoff to start Wednesday’s game as Marc-Andre Fleury was unable to suit up due to injury. Backup Matt Murray is also injured so 20-year-old Tristan Jarry, who has never appeared in an NHL game, backed Zatkoff up.

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