What’s left for Igor Shesterkin to do?
The Rangers goaltender brought rare joy to Madison Square Garden in Tuesday’s win over the Devils, inspiring and entertaining his teammates after taking down goalie Jacob Markstrom in his first career fight.
Shesterkin did it while performing like the former Vezina Trophy winner who led the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy two years ago, allowing one goal for the second straight game and leading the team to its first three-game winning streak at home this season.
Shesterkin gives the team the best chance to win when wins aren’t necessarily in the best interest of the team looking ahead to the June draft. It’s the $92 million foundation for everything the Rangers’ retooling brings.
His backups provide uncertainty.
Jonathan Quick, 40, will be a free agent and is coming off a disappointing third season in New York, going 5-16-2 with a 3.19 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. Dylan Garand, 23, has brought excitement in his first two career starts, going 1-0-1 with a 1.44 GAA and a .954 save percentage.
It would make sense to see the rookie goaltender make multiple starts over the final seven games of the lost season, but head coach Mike Sullivan seems reluctant to do so at the expense of respected veterans.
“We’ll make decisions based on what we think is best for the three players,” Sullivan said after Monday’s practice. “clearly [Shesterkin] He is our No. 1 goalkeeper. It’s an important component of what we do moving forward. [Quick] He’s a guy who’s been a great leader and a voice in our locker room. … Dylan has had two really good starts for us and we’re excited about the potential for his game to move forward.”
“Based on his performance, he is [Garand] Is it worth another start? Yes. This is a fair statement. But I will also tell you that there are multiple goals in mind and that’s what we’re trying to manage. Does he get another start? Does he get two more starts? Ultimately, will this significantly impact our stance regarding his overall game rating? Maybe not. What encourages me is what I have experienced up to this point. Watching Dylan play, he’s a great kid, he’s competitive, he loves hockey, and we love all those things about him.
Garand could be ready to start Thursday’s home game against the Canadiens, as the Rangers (31-35-9) attempt to match a season-high four-game winning streak. Another opportunity comes with the team’s back-to-back games this weekend.
Garand stopped 27 of his 28 shots on Friday, earning his first career win against the Blackhawks. Quick — who has not played since allowing six goals to the Devils on March 18 — is closing in on his return from an upper-body injury, and Sullivan sounds as if he would like to get the most accomplished American goaltender ever back on the ice, perhaps for his final season.
Then there’s Shesterkin who still wants to fight.
“When you look at how far the games are moving forward, [Shesterkin] “He has the desire to play because he loves to play hockey and that’s important from my perspective,” Sullivan said.[Shesterkin’s] He will play games because he has the desire to play. …we have [seven] Games, so there doesn’t seem to be a large number of games that we have the opportunity to provide everyone with what they need.