Igor Shesterkin's reluctance to make bold passes has added to the New York Rangers' 5-on-5 struggles.
The New York Rangers have struggled to produce at 5-on-5 over the last month, a relapse of last season and a reverse of what was a solid area of their game through the first quarter of this season.
Zone entrances, neutral zone play, team defense, and defense off the rush have all contributed to a lack of a transition game, which has led to a lack of offensive production.
What also hasn't helped the cause has been the play of goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
The 28-year-old has had an average season. Nothing more, nothing less, posting a 17-10-0 record, with a 2.83 GAA and a.903 SV%.
But there's another area of his game, outside of stopping pucks at a consistent rate, that's hurt the Rangers transition game.
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has the rare ability to dish the puck through two zones to create offense for the team, being credited with five career assists:
It's the equivalent of running the "Philly Special" in football. A goaltender who can break pucks outs and stretch the ice is nearly undefendable.
But Shesterkin just hasn't played a focal role in that area this season.
Confidence may be the remedy the Russian netminder needs all around, as he plays his best brand of hockey when he has his fingerprints on it.
As the Rangers and Shesterkin look to build on Sunday's 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals Tuesday night against the Seattle Kraken, he can continue to mount trust in his abilities.
Although the team has slipped recently, Stanley Cup dreams are only achievable if Shesterkin is on his game, which includes being an elite puck-handling netminder.