Rangers aren’t panicking over Igor Shesterkin’s alarming play
To Jonathan Quick, who has experienced the ups and downs of 17 NHL seasons, its not a rough patch.
The numbers suggest that this has been one of the worst stretches of Igor Shesterkins career.
There have been signs of mounting frustration, too.
He has allowed four or more goals in five of his last eight starts, which tops the span in February 2022 when he allowed at least four goals in four consecutive games.
But the Rangers, including Quick and head coach Peter Laviolette, havent wavered in their support of the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner.
When asked if Quick 8-0-1 with a .922 save percentage this season could see more ice time with Shesterkin and the Blueshirts defense struggling, Laviolette said it could naturally happen with the Rangers playing two sets of back-to-backs across the next two weekends.
It doesnt change their perspective on Shesterkin, though. Laviolette knows what his rsum says, and he also knows that the Rangers need to clean up their defensive game in front of the net.
I know based on the eye test, I watch him play and hes making huge saves when he needs to, Quick told The Post after practice Wednesday. I think we as a group need to step the game up a little bit around him, kind of limit some of those chances.
3Igor Shesterkin is in the middle of the worst stretch of his career. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostI watch those games. Im not worried about him at all.
Shesterkins save percentage has never dipped beneath .916 across a full season, and it sits at .902 entering Fridays game against the Ducks. His goals against average at 3.02 hadnt risen above 2.62 since 2020-21.
Shesterkins campaign has already included a four-game absence due to general soreness, and since returning, as The Posts Larry Brooks noted, hes won just four of nine starts with an .894 save percentage.
3Shesterkin is far off the pace that won him a Vezina Trophy in 2021-22. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTAfter allowing five goals to the Sabres on Nov. 27, Shesterkin slammed his stick against the glass while skating off the ice, and when the Rangers 7-3 loss to the Maple Leafs ended Tuesday, he was dejected in the locker room, unable to describe his performance other than saying that this the Blueshirts season-worst stretch of three losses in four games was his fault.
I dont know what to say to you, sorry, Shesterkin told reporters at the Garden on Tuesday.
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Laviolette spoke with Shesterkin on Wednesday, he said, and he knows that Shesterkins high standard just shows that the 27-year-old, similar to any other player, cares about his performance.
Still, Laviolette reiterated that against the Capitals, Senators and Maple Leafs Shesterkins last three losses in which he allowed 15 combined goals shouldve featured stronger defense from the Rangers, specifically in the first period against Toronto.
I know everybody wants to play well, Laviolette said. He certainly does. Hes an elite goaltender, and we have a tremendous amount of confidence in him.
Sometimes, Quick said,the defensive element of an NHL game plan can be difficult. Its a complicated sport and league. Opponents know a teams system, and theyll construct any sort of counter to expose cracks.
The results can change day-to-day.
Thats why, the 37-year-old added, a strong defensive performance against the Kings when Quick was in net Sunday and the Rangers allowed five high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick can feature a brutal encore, when they surrendered 12 high-danger chances against the Maple Leafs, within the same week.
Laviolette called everything from the power play to the penalty kill to goaltending cyclical, and Shesterkins history suggests a turnaround could follow.
3The Rangers could naturally turn more to Jonathan Quick with the schedule featuring back-to-back games. Robert Sabo for NY PostLast season, after his four-game stretch of struggles in February, Shesterkin went 12-3-1 the rest of the regular season with a .934 save percentage, which was a sample on pace with his Vezina-winning season from the previous campaign.
So maybe Quick will start again soon, even if its more connected to the Rangers schedule and less about Shesterkins dilemma.
Theyre not worried about Shesterkins latest string of games yet.
Theres a tremendous amount of confidence in both goalies, Laviolette said, and so its a really good situation for our organization. So I think just based on the schedule, I think youll see the goaltenders both get time.
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