Zuccarello: Lundqvist is 'the best goalie in the world'

A stretch of bad games did little to shake the confidence that the New York Rangers have in their star netminder.

Henrik Lundqvist turned in another stellar effort on Monday night, steering away 36 shots as the Rangers got by the Los Angeles Kings 3-2.

For Lundqvist, the outing was his third straight win and while his previous handful of games had many running for the hills, forward Mats Zuccarello insists the team never lost faith in Lundqvist's abilities.

"He’s our most important player," Zuccarello said postgame. "We didn’t give him good enough help for a stretch there. He knew he needed to be better, but everybody goes through slumps during the season. We have no worries for Hank. In my opinion he’s the best goalie in the world and he showed that tonight, and was showing that the last few games."

Over the past three games Lundqvist has stopped 80 of the 84 shots thrown his way,m this after he had conceded 20 goals in his previous four appearances. According to the man himself, his sudden rebound in play can be contributed to simplifying his game.

"I simplified my focus I think three games ago. It helps me be on my toes a little bit," said Lundqvist. "The way I can describe it is I just try to simplify everything and have a little higher readiness than before. But this game, especially for me, is so much the way I think, the way I read the game and stay in the moment. So I just try to simplify it and then adding with the way we’re playing right now in the last three (games) - blocking shots, and really trying to play a better defensive game - obviously that helps me."

With their third straight win, the Rangers are now just a win behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for third place in the Metropolitan Division.