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Lundqvist edges Andersen in spectacular goaltender's duel

Tom Szczerbowski / USA TODAY Sports

Who says hockey can't thrill in the absence of goals?

Henrik Lundqvist and Frederik Andersen were spectacular in Thursday's clash in Toronto, matching each other save for save in a classic goaltender's duel won 2-1 in a shootout by the veteran New York Rangers stopper.

Together, the netminders combined to make 69 saves, including seven in a wild overtime frame. However, it was the two Lundqvist made on three opportunities in the shootout which proved decisive.

For Lundqvist, it was an outing consistent with his form of late. He has kept a dazzling .943 save rate since his struggles last month. But for Andersen, despite suffering the loss, the performance represents something to build on. He had allowed at least four goals in five of his eight appearances in February before making 37 saves versus the Rangers in perhaps his best game with the Maple Leafs.

"This is how I want to be playing," Andersen told Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press. "I know I can play like this."

Still, for a netminder that has struggled in the shootout throughout his career, it was another frustrating outing.

"I think pretty much everyone in hockey wanted this (game) to keep going," he told TSN's Mark Masters. "It was a good overtime."

Despite their shootout record falling to 1-7, it was an important point earned for the Leafs. The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning each failed to earn a point Thursday, losing traction in the tight Atlantic Division race.

Lundqvist's Rangers, meanwhile, moved past the Columbus Blue Jackets into the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division.

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