SAN JOSE, Calif. — You might as well call it the NHL Some-Stars Game in Columbus on Jan. 25, for Henrik Lundqvist will not be there.
Rick Nash will be the lone Rangers representative in the exhibition after the league's decision to overlook one of its marquee, signature athletes.
"It's going to be my first break [other than the 2012-13 lockout] in about nine years," Lundqvist told The Post before the Rangers' 3-1 win over the Sharks. "I think my play has been up to my standards after maybe the first few weeks, but … I don't know what else to say.
"Obviously, I want to be one of the guys to compete there. But there's a lot of competition. … I'm going to look at this as an opportunity to get some rest and spend time with my family."
Nash will be joined on the squad by the Islanders' John Tavares and the Devils' Patrik Elias.
The King, who has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his past 11 starts, had played in the 2009, 2011 and 2012 All-Star Games as well as in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Olympics.
Nash, meanwhile, will get to go home for his sixth All-Star appearance, and his first as a Ranger after five previous selections as a member of the Blue Jackets.
The Big Easy, who has 26 goals, is the only player in the NHL who ranks in the top 10 in goals, plus-minus (tied for seventh at plus-18) and takeaways (ninth with 33).
Henrik Lundqvist makes a glove save during the Rangers' 3-1 win over the Sharks on Saturday night.Photo: AP
"It's definitely a fun weekend to be a part of," Nash said. "You owe it to the guys in the dressing room that don't get recognized for being the reason I'm there.
"[Columbus] is a special place for me, and it will be nice to spend some time there. So there will be a little extra."
The rampaging Rangers went into Saturday's match having gone 12-1 since Dec. 8 while outscoring their opponents by an aggregate 48-21. The Blueshirts were in search of their first-ever sweep of a three-
game California trip since the Ducks joined the NHL in 1993-94.
But neither that nor avenging last season's humiliating 9-2 defeat here to the Sharks on Oct. 8 — in which Nash was concussed by a Brad Stuart headshot and Thomas Hertl all but sent Martin Biron into retirement — were uppermost in the team's consciousness approaching the game.
"We want the two points and we want to prove ourselves again coming off two big wins," said Nash, alluding to the back-to-back victories over the Ducks and Kings on Wednesday and Thursday. "We need the points."
Dan Boyle made his first appearance in San Jose as a visitor in seven years, having played the last six seasons with the Sharks. A video tribute was planned for the defenseman, who following Thursday's victory first acknowledged this would be a meaningful game for him.
"I'm a team guy first, so the two points come first," Boyle said following the morning skate. "But this place means a lot to me.
"I had six great years here and I'm proud of what I did here," said No. 22. "I left here with my head held high."
Boyle, who said he plans to live in the area after he retires, was asked the difference between playing in San Jose and New York. The 38-year-old, 16-year NHL veteran never beforehad played in a major market, having previously played for the Panthers, Lightning and Sharks.
"I don't want to say anything negative about San Jose, but [New York] is more of a traditional hockey market," Boyle said. "It's been around a long time, there's a lot of history and the building itself is pretty special … one of the best buildings in the world, not just North America.
"Just wearing the jersey — Brian Leetch was my favorite D-man," he said. "There's a whole lot of little things that come with playing for an Original Six team."
But for Boyle, it wasn't all smooth sailing
Boyle suffered a broken nose in taking an elbow on his first shift in his return to the city in which he played for six years. The defenseman said he believes he broke it again in the third period.
"I broke my hand in my first game [as a Ranger]," Boyle said. "So why wouldn't it happen?
"The blood was pouring down my face, into my throat. I was coughing it up. It was actually pretty disgusting," Boyle said.
Coach Alain Vigneault was asked his opinion on the no-goal video review on Mats Zuccarello's backhand at 4:24 of the third period that Antti Niemi snared across the line.
"The puck's in the mitt, the mitt's in the net," said the coach. I'll let you use your common sense."
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