Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist resumes skating amid recovery

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvistis on track to return during a road trip late next week in California, if not sooner.

Coach Alain Vigneault said Thursday that Lundqvist has resumed skating and is "feeling a lot better."

"Originally that was our mindset, that we were thinking he should be ready for that, and we haven't changed," Vigneault said of Lundqvist's recovery timetable, which has him scheduled to return during a three-game road trip that begins against the Los Angeles Kings on March 25. "But I am saying to you he is feeling better, so we'll see how he is moving forward here."

Lundqvist suffered a strained hip March 7 against theFlorida Panthersand has missed three games.

"He's going through the on-ice process right now with [goaltender coach Benoit Allaire]," Vigneault said, according to NHL.com. "That's a very important position, so we've got to make sure he's 100 percent."

Lundqvist became the first goalie in NHL history to record at least 30 wins in 11 of his first 12 seasons after a win earlier this month.

"He's going to skate every day unless they feel they need to give him a rest, but I talked to him just before coming here and he's feeling a lot better," Vigneault said.