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New York Rangers: All hail the new King, other takeaways

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: Gregg McKegg #14 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the first period against Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden on February 9, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: Gregg McKegg #14 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the first period against Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden on February 9, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 07: New York Rangers Goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) deflects a shot during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers on February 7, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 07: New York Rangers Goalie Alexandar Georgiev (40) deflects a shot during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers on February 7, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. All hail the new King

It become abundantly clear after the game that the three-headed goalie monster has been all but slayed.

Because, after watching Igor Shesterkin stop 42 of the 43 shots he faced, Rangers Head Coach David Quinn declared that only the best goalie will play from now on.

There will be no more rotation in order to keep all three netminders sharp, and that number will fall to two between now and the Trade Deadline on Feb. 24.

So, for now at least, it appears clear that Igor Shesterkin is the new starter in town for the New York Rangers.

He was impressive again on Sunday as he made it five wins from his first six starts in the National Hockey League.

Shesterkin hasn’t been fazed by the big lights of Madison Square Garden at all, and the rookie boasts all the intangibles you need to morph into a franchise goaltender.

There was one sequence in particular that really stood out as Shesterkin shutdown Tyler Toffoli in the first period, before making a sequence of big saves to keep LA at bay.

This is rapidly becoming Shesterkin’s team now and it appears that the New York Rangers are ready to hand the keys to the kingdom to their rookie goalie.

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