Rangers' Lundqvist to sit out Thursday vs. Flyers

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist will not be in uniform for the team's game Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center, coach Alain Vigneault said Wednesday.

"If this would have been a playoff game, he'd probably be playing. So it's something that is day-to-day that we think we can nip in the bud," Vigneault said Wednesday. "It might take a day or two. But it's something he should be able to turn the page on and we won't hear about it anymore."

Cam Talbot will make his NHL debut as the Rangers' starting goalie and Jason Missiaen will serve as Talbot's backup. Talbot and Missiaen started the season in the American Hockey League but have split time as Lundqvist's backups since the team waived Martin Biron last week.

Neither goaltender has any previous NHL experience, meaning that the Rangers will be the first team to dress two goaltenders with no NHL experience since Feb. 8, 2011. That night, the New York Islanders started Mikko Koskinen against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Joel Martin serving as his backup.

"I'm extremely excited. It's every kid's dream growing up playing hockey to one day get a chance to play in the NHL," Talbot said after practice on Wednesday. "You just have to approach it like any other game. I just have to do my best to settle myself down and just focus on the game."

Lundqvist will travel with the team but will not dress for the game. He has missed the past three practices with what the team has referred to as a "minor issue." It's unclear if Lundqvist will be able to play or even dress for the Rangers' game Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

New York has lost five of its first seven games and Lundqvist has posted a .890 save percentage and 3.45 goals-against average.