Why Lundqvist lobbied to start in back-to-back games this early

WASHINGTON — When Henrik Lundqvist took the nets Wednesday to complete the back-to-back assignment that began with Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout victory at the Garden over the Avalanche, that meant he had started six of the Rangers’ seven games.

It also meant Alex Georgiev, the 22-year-old backup, has played just once since his final preseason outing, in Philadelphia on Sept. 27.

Which is why it seems likely Georgiev, who had a tough one in his lone start at Carolina on Oct. 7 while yielding three soft ones of seven overall, will be dispatched to AHL Hartford to get some game action this weekend. The Wolf Pack play in Belleville, Ontario, on Friday and in Toronto on Saturday. The Rangers’ next game is Sunday at the Garden against the Flames.

“Jeff and I will talk about that after,” coach David Quinn said before his club’s 4-3 overtime loss, alluding to general manager Jeff Gorton. “The decision to come back with Hank wasn’t made until this morning, so we haven’t had a chance to discuss it, but it’s certainly something that’s on the table.”

Lundqvist started both ends of back-to-backs eight times last season. He had done so 85 times previously throughout his career, posting a 53-23-7 record with a 2.09 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. He lobbied for this start against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

“He’s one of the best goalies in the league, if not the best right now, so he does have a say,” Quinn said. “Our last two games, we’ve given up less chances so they’ve been easier games for him; not easy, but easier. He’s feeling good, and he and I and [goaltending coach] Benny [Allaire] talked it over and he’s in.

“One of the things Hank and I talked about this summer was that we would talk about situations like this. The way he’s going, the way he feels, plus the fact we have three days until our next game, I thought it was a good time for a back-to-back.”

Pavel Buchnevich dressed in place of Cody McLeod to end his one-game stay in street clothes. No. 89 started on the fourth line and moved up briefly in the third. He was not a factor in 10:30.

“I was going to come back with Cody, but I decided to get Butchie back in,” Quinn, who has not yet gone with the same lineup in consecutive games, said before the match. “I’ve said before that a lot of these decisions are not 100 percent, they are 51-49 a lot. But Butchie is going to be an important part of what we’re going to do.

“Listen, he’s a really good player, he had a good practice [on Monday] and he’s got a good attitude. We need him. I want to get him back on the horse.”

Freddie Claesson remained in for the fourth straight game after sitting out the first three as a healthy scratch. Tony DeAngelo, out for the fifth time, and Adam McQuaid, sitting out both ends of the back-to-back, were scratched on D.

“Freddy makes good passes, and he’s brought energy to our game,” Quinn said. “He’s given us what we need. With eight defensemen, I’ve told them all, ‘If you want to play, grab a position.’ ”

Marc Staal, Brady Skjei and Brendan Smith are the only defensemen to have played in all seven games. Smith struggled at times, so perhaps it will be his turn next.

The game marked Quinn’s first return to the DC arena since he was assistant coach for BU’s NCAA Championship game victory on April 11, 2009. The Terriers defeated Miami of Ohio 4-3 in overtime on a Colby Cohen goal on which Kevin Shattenkirk had an assist. The Terriers had been down 3-1 before scoring twice in the final minute of regulation.