from Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News,

Cam Talbot has not dethroned Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers say, but Alain Vigneault's decision to start Talbot Monday night for the second straight game has the unmistakable makings of a potential goalie controversy at 33rd and 7th.

"Cam's playing extremely well right now," Vigneault said at the Garden before the Blueshirts (14-13-0) took on the Winnipeg Jets (12-12-4). "He's got a lot of confidence in his abilities, and for tonight's game, I just thought that was the right call. Henrik is definitely the number one goaltender on this team. He's proven that over the years: That he's one of the best, if not the best, in the National Hockey League. But for tonight's game I feel that it's the best thing for us to go with Cam."

Lundqvist, 31, the Rangers' Team MVP for the last seven consecutive seasons and the 2011-12 Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie, has not been a healthy scratch in consecutive games since Feb. 5-7, 2011, when now-retired backup Martin Biron played two in a row under former coach John Tortorella....

"This game is not about what you did last year or the last eight years or last month; it's about now," Lundqvist said. "And tonight, this is the best decision for the team, and I stand behind that. I just have to see it as a challenge for me to really reach my top level. I'm not satisfied by being OK or (that) I played a solid game. I want to be great. And if I'm not, I'm not gonna be satisfied. So I just need to push myself even harder here."

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