The Rangers have rightfully given Igor Shesterkin a bulk of the credit for their 7-3-3 start to the season. The 25-year-old goaltender has played to a 6-2-2 record with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
When asked if that is the most successful stretch of play in his hockey career, Shesterkin showed just how much he expects of himself.
“I can play better,” Shesterkin said, without the help of a translator.
Much like predecessor Henrik Lundqvist, Shesterkin has been subjected to an avalanche of shots on goal from opponents. After enduring a season-high 45 shots from the Panthers in the Rangers’ 4-3 win at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Shesterkin has faced an average of 26.6 shots per game so far this season. The Rangers have only limited two opponents, the Stars and Predators, to fewer than 30 shots.
Shesterkin, however, said he prefers to see a lot of action throughout the game so he can stay sharp.
“Yeah, why not?” he said Thursday after practice at MSG Training Center. “I think [it’s] much harder when you have 18 shots in a game because [you’re] so [cold].”
It’s easy to forget this is Shesterkin’s first full 82-game campaign with a normal travel schedule, after the past two seasons were either suspended or shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic. Shesterkin admitted it was tough, but pointed out that everybody in the NHL goes through the same challenges.
“It’s pretty tough, but everybody in this league does the same thing,” Shesterkin said. “If everybody play, I can do the same.”
The Rangers already have played two of the 13 sets of back-to-back games on their schedule, and head coach Gerard Gallant has opted to split the starts between Shesterkin and backup Alexandar Georgiev each time. Shesterkin, who has started in the second game of each of the first two back-to-back matchups, said he doesn’t have a preference for which one he plays.
“He’s been outstanding,” Gallant said. “He’s strong, and he’s been real confident. When a goaltender goes in for us, we feel very confident that we got a good chance to win a hockey game. They’ve been great for us, so I’m really happy.”
Filip Chytil, who is still considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, skated on his own Thursday before the Rangers’ practice.
The start time for the Rangers matchup with the Bruins on Nov. 26 has been moved up to 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ABC.