TORONTO — The looming three-day holiday recess in which NHL teams are forbidden from skating was a key consideration when David Quinn decided to split the weekend back-to-back goaltending by tabbing Alex Georgiev for Saturday’s 5-3 loss against the powerful Maple Leafs while holding back Henrik Lundqvist for Sunday’s Garden match against the Flyers.
With the following game Thursday at home against the Blue Jackets, for which both teams will prep with morning skates, the coach opted to cut Lundqvist’s days of inactivity to a minimum. The Rangers opted to go with backup Ondrej Pavelec coming out of last year’s holiday break and All-Star break.