Igor Shesterkin’s Stellar Performance
Igor Shesterkin showcased his remarkable skill as the goaltender for the New York Rangers, securing a crucial victory during a shootout against the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 28. In this nail-biting scenario, the Rangers claimed the win after all three Penguins players failed to find the back of the net against Shesterkin, who boasts a stellar .738 save percentage in shootouts—the best in Rangers’ history.
Shesterkin’s Shootout Success
Shesterkin’s prowess in shootouts is evident from his performance; he has successfully blocked 62 of the 84 attempts he has faced throughout his seven seasons in the NHL. This achievement places him as the fifth-best goaltender in the league regarding shootout saves since his debut in the 2019-20 season. Only four other goaltenders currently maintain a higher save percentage in this phase of the game: Juuse Saros (.806), Elvis Merzlikins (.747), Jordan Binnington (.705), and Jake Oettinger (.739).
Coach’s Confidence
Reflecting on Shesterkin’s capabilities, Rangers’ head coach Mike Sullivan expressed his confidence, stating, “It’s comforting, I’m not gonna lie. I think he’s the best goalie in the game. Just this compete level. He’s an elite player, and so it’s comforting to have him between the pipes, whether it be in the shootout or anytime, for that matter. He has the ability to change the outcome of a game.”
Return from Injury
This match marked Shesterkin’s second appearance after a prolonged absence of 13 games caused by a lower-body injury. Since making his comeback, he has successfully stopped 52 out of 57 shots faced, raising his overall season save percentage to .913. Notably, this period also signifies his initial time with the Rangers without standout teammate Artemi Panarin, who has been dealt to another team, a loss Shesterkin acknowledged as significant given Panarin’s skill level.
“He’s one of the best players in the league,” he remarked. “Of course, it’s pretty tough for us to lose a player of that caliber. I hope he enjoys the trade. We wish him all the best.”
Future Workload Management
Regarding the number of games Shesterkin will play in the remaining 23 contests of the season, Sullivan indicated that future decisions will involve discussions with the goaltender himself.
“We’ll talk with Shesky, and we’ll manage it together,” Sullivan noted. “But, obviously, he feels really good right now. He feels strong. He worked hard in the return-to-play process that he went through. But as far as what his workload looks like moving forward, I don’t know that I can give you a definitive answer yet. He’s going to play, I can tell you that.”
Team Achievements
In addition to Shesterkin’s stellar performance, the Rangers achieved a remarkable feat with a faceoff win percentage of 76.9% in Saturday’s game, marking the highest for the franchise since the NHL began tracking these statistics in 1997-98. This impressive stat ties them for the 10th highest single-game faceoff win percentage in league history, a record last surpassed when the Edmonton Oilers achieved a 79.6% win rate back in March 2024. The Rangers enjoyed a day off before gearing up to face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on Monday evening.
