Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesIgor Shesterkin’s 22-save performance in the New York Rangers’ 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils wasn’t the main storyline on Tuesday night; but instead, it was actually his fighting.
In the third period of the game, after Paul Cotter made contact in the Rangers’ crease, Shesterkin gave him a shove, which prompted Jacob Markström to charge Shesterkin all the way from the other end of the ice, challenging him to a goalie fight.
It was Shesterkin’s first-ever fight, and all he could think about was trying not to get embarrassed.
“I was just like, ‘ooh, how huge he is.’ I just don’t want to get knocked out,” Shesterkin said.
Not only did Shesterkin not get embarrassed, but he got the better of Markström, knocking him to the ground after throwing a series of punches.
“Fellas told me I probably won by points… I just want to say thank you to my boxing coach,” Shesterkin jokingly said. “I just had a couple of lessons.”
The skill of Shesterkin was always evident to anybody around the Rangers, but his ability to fight was never put to the test until Tuesday night.
Despite his fiery conduct during every game, whether that means getting physical or trash talking the opposing players, Shesterkin’s fight still came as a surprise to many.
“What a great fight,” Mike Sullivan emphasised. “I didn’t know Shesty had that in him.”
This goalie fight was truly one of the high points for the Rangers in a season filled with disappointment and agony.
“I’m trying not to swear, but that was awesome,” J.T. Miller said of Shesterkin’s fight. “I know he's a fierce competitor, a leader for our team, but that was — that was awesome. For everything that's going on here and this year in this arena, for that to happen, that was the most pumped up I've been all season. I'm so happy for him. It's a great, great moment.”
Sullivan believes this is a moment the Rangers can rally around moving forward.
With the Rangers looking to establish a hard-nose culture, Sullivan thinks Shesterkin is the “foundation” of what the organization is trying to build.
“Shesty means so much to this team. In a lot of ways he’s the foundation,” Sullivan said. “I believe he’s the best goalie in the world… In a lot of ways, he personifies what we want to become.”