The New York Rangers all-world netminder continued his revival with showstopping saves in the team's 4-3 overtime triumph.
New York City, N.Y: Igor Shesterkin has been under the microscope, in part because of the fantastic play of Jonathan Quick.
It is no secret that the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner has struggled this season. He has allowed 4 or more goals in 7 games this year, battling through a .906 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average.
The rough start is slowly drifting away in the rearview mirror. So it goes, the NHL season is like a highway at late night, headlights vanish as it always moves forward to new and open roads. Shesterkin has won the last 3 decisions he's started and his numbers are reaching an equilibrium.
On Saturday night, he stopped 27 shots of the 30 he faced, making many quintessential Igor saves to keep the team's hopes alive. He was also donning new pads to go with the team's new alternate uniforms. New setup but a familiar Igor.
Mika Zibanejad, who assisted the game-winner, tipped his cap to the 27-year-old keeper, "He always gives us a chance to win and he really bailed us out the whole game but especially in overtime.. another big performance by him and happy we got the win for him."
New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette does not believe that Shesterkin needed a big confidence game but acknowledged how vital his performance was for the extra point. Here is what he said post-game:
No matter how you slice it, Shesterkin needed a victory under his belt where he directly affected the outcome of the contest. That's where he's his best, case and point: last night.
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