Rangers lose Henrik Lundqvist to lower-body injury for 2-3 weeks

The New York Rangers will be without Henrik Lundqvist in their run up to the playoffs, as their starting goaltender has been diagnosed with a lower-body injury that will keep him out for two to three weeks.

Lundqvist was kept out of the Rangers’ lineup on Thursday with the problem, along with Rick Nash. It was not disclosed exactly how Lundqvist was injured.

For the next few weeks, the Rangers will roll with backup Antti Raanta, who has a .922 save percentage on the year in 23 games played. New York also recalled 25-year-old Magnus Hellberg from its AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on an emergency basis.

In 51 games this year, Lundqvist is looking at almost career low numbers with a .913 save percentage. While the 35-year-old has struggled at times this year, he’s also cemented himself as one of the league’s top 10 winningest goaltenders in NHL history.

The Rangers sit at fourth place in the Metropolitan Division in the first wild card spot with a healthy lead over the Islanders. With the playoffs still a month out, Lundqvist should be able to get back into the lineup before the postseason, barring complications.