Why Igor Shesterkin is now Rangers concern amid team-wide funk
The New York Rangers sit at a mediocre 13-10-1 following a 5-1 spanking at the hands of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden Monday night. This is the same Rangers team that started 5-0-1 and then had a 12-4-1 record, but has been in a total freefall since. The Rangers have lost 10 of their past 18 games (8-10-0), including six of their past seven. Their latest blunder came at the hands of their most bitter rival in the Devils, and it appears that rock bottom has a basement for this team.
A glaring, often harped-on issue that has been plaguing the Rangers is their careless defensive play. In their past eight games, the Rangers have given up at least three goals, and it’s been four or more in four of those games. The blame does not lie solely on the skaters, however.
It cannot be overlooked that star goaltender Igor Shesterkin now boasts a lowly 8-9-1 record this season. His 3.05 goals-against average is 29th among NHL goalies who’ve played at least 10 games this season. His .908 save percentage, though, speaks to his brilliance earlier in the season.
The former Vezina Trophy winner has posted a startling .882 save percentage and a GAA of nearly 4.00 (3.66) in his past nine games, when he is 2-7-0, including current five-game personal losing streak.
Regardless of how the defense is playing, these numbers are simply not good enough on a team looking to contend for a Stanley Cup, and these figures are certainly not good enough to command over $11 million dollars in annual salary.
Related: Mika Zibanejad calls for both ‘desperation’ and ‘cool head’ as losses mount for Rangers
Losing the game before it’s even over — or barely started
Shesterkin has not helped the Rangers throughout this unwatchable slump, as he has given up a goal within the first five minutes of play in three consecutive starts. Even worse, each of those situations occurred against division rivals: the Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Devils. And it’s been an issue all season, not just recently.
Shesterkin has also further crippled the Rangers by allowing at least one goal in the first period in nine consecutive starts. That is simply an inexcusable stat, and certainly one that will not benefit the Rangers in a shockingly-strong Metropolitan Division. While these goals can be attributed to the Rangers not showing up on time and surrendering endless odd-man-rushes early, a goaltender demanding over 10 percent of the team’s cap space has to make a timely save every now and then.
Take for example Jesper Bratt’s goal 1:27 into the first period of New York’s loss to New Jersey. It’s a brutal job by Artemi Panarin and Co. getting caught up ice and allowing Bratt to speed through center ice and burst into the Rangers zone on a 2-on-1 rush. But Shesterkin gets a clean look at that shot and simply doesn’t make the save. When he’s on top of his game, Shesterkin makes the save and the Rangers remain 0-0.
Then that shot against the grain by Dawson Mercer that made it 2-0 at 7:10 of the first period? It’s a broken play because of a previous blocked shot, but, again, Shesterkin has a decent look, but allows the puck to sneak under his right pad. From there, the Rangers were chasing all night.
Switch to Jonathan Quick
Through all of this underwhelming play from Shesterkin, coach Peter Laviolette elected to keep Jonathan Quick on the bench for all but six games this season (Quick started five games and came in to relieve Shesterkin against Buffalo on Nov. 7). The Rangers are losing countless important games while their backup, who has a .936 save percentage and 2.03 GAA, is riding the pine.
It could benefit the Rangers to have a new look in net, at least until Shesterkin figures some things out. Though Laviolette may be reluctant to increase the workload of the 38-year-old backup, having a player in net with championship pedigree, and a desire for one last Cup could help shift games in their favor.
It worked last season, when Quick stepped in to give Shesterkin a reset after the NHL All-Star break and the Rangers went on a nice run. Shesterkin returned and was on top of his game the rest of the regular season and was New York’s best player by far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs during a run to the Eastern Conference Final. So, it was a strategy that worked both in the short and long term
The Rangers are slowly running out of time to rectify the mess that they’ve made, and it’s time for Shesterkin to step up or step aside — even if briefly — to help them get back on track.
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