Rangers G Lundqvist sits with flu

Feb 7, 2009 - 4:57 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- All-Star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist gave way to backup Stephen Valiquette on Friday and watched in horror as his New York Rangers suffered a 10-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Lundqvist, who is battling the flu, dressed as the backup to Valiquette, who yielded all 10 goals on 39 shots in New York's worst defensive effort since a 10-4 setback against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 9, 1993.

The 26-year-old Lundqvist, who started eight of New York's previous nine games, owns a 24-15-4 record with two shutouts and a 2.53 goals-against average in 43 contests this season. The Swede, who was a seventh-round pick in 2000, is 128-73-31 in 238 games over four campaigns with the Rangers.

Valiquette, 31, had gone 5-3-1 with one shutout and a 2.17 GAA in 11 appearances in 2008-09 prior to Friday's debacle.

Defenseman Paul Mara was not in the lineup for New York due to the flu. The 29-year-old native of Ridgewood, New Jersey has recorded four goals, 11 assists and 65 penalty minutes in 52 games this season.