Nearly a week after the New York Rangers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist took to Facebook to reflect.
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Lundqvist has been quiet on social media following the ouster of the Rangers at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final at Madison Square Garden last Friday.
The Blueshirts dropped a Game 7 on MSG ice for the first time in club history and were blanked for the second straight home game in their do-or-die 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay.
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Six days after they were eliminated, Lundqvist turned to Facebook to give his thoughts on the season and its "disappointing" finish.
"Spend the last 5 days to analyze and reflect," Lundqvist wrote. "Many great moments but the biggest feeling is disappointment. Hoped this would be the year.
Think we handled our expectations well throughout the year and during the playoffs. We came close but it was not enough.
Will recharge over the summer and with the goal to come back stronger and better. And there's only one goal in mind.
Thank you ALL for the support throughout the year! #NYR"
The Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best team in the regular season by setting franchise records with 53 wins and 113 points and another club all-time mark with an NHL-leading 28 road wins.
New York took out the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1 and then eliminated the Washington Capitals in a thrilling seven-game set that saw the team clinch the series in overtime of Game 7.
The Rangers couldn't quite get past the Lightning though and after laying two eggs at home, a once promising season is looked upon by most pundits and fans as a failure.
Lundqvist, 33, was limited to just 46 games in the regular season due to a vascular injury, but he still managed to win 30 games for the ninth time in his career while fastening a 2.25 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage with five shutouts.
Lundqvist, who fell short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for his second straight year and the second time in his career, went 11-8 this postseason with a 2.11 GAA and a .928 save percentage.
It was a promising season for the Rangers, but they fell short of the ultimate goal and their team slogan of "change the ending" after dropping the Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings in five games last spring turned out to be a pipe dream.
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