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New York Rangers: Kreider’s huge night, slick uniforms, other takeaways

By Andrew Steele-Davis

WINNIPEG, MB February 11: Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine (29) jostles for position with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) during the regular season game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers on February 11, 2020 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB February 11: Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine (29) jostles for position with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) during the regular season game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers on February 11, 2020 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 11: Goaltender Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers guards the net during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 11, 2020 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 11: Goaltender Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers guards the net during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 11, 2020 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. New era officially underway

I think we can officially say this now:

The Igor Shesterkin era is well and truly underway.

There is a new prince in town and he has all the intangibles to suggest that it won’t be long before we are anointing Shesterkin as the new King of Madison Square Garden.

And we were all treated to another episode of the Igor Shesterkin Show on Tuesday, with the rookie again proving he was born to rule the NHL.

Related Story. The end of an era. light

Facing off against a shooting gallery of locked and loaded weapons including the likes of Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers, Shesterkin ruled the night again.

He stopped 42 of the 43 shots flung in his direction, with only a Ehlers wrister that hit a few legs on the way getting by the rookie.

But, perhaps more impressive was the mental fortitude shown by Shesterkin after he was forced to overcome a slice of adversity.

WINNIPEG, MB February 11: Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine (29) hits the post behind New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin (31) during the regular season game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers on February 11, 2020 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB February 11: Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine (29) hits the post behind New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin (31) during the regular season game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers on February 11, 2020 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Colliding with Jets forward Andrew Copp midway through the first period, Shesterkin fell to a heap on the ice and clutched at his left leg in agony, prompting screams of panic from everyone associated with the Rangers.

However, Shesterkin soon shook that off and was fine to continue until, six minutes later, he was pulled out of the game by the concussion spotter.

Henrik Lundqvist filled the breach,  making one save in just over six minutes of action – before Shesterkin was allowed back in.

It was a bewildering call given that Shesterkin had hurt his ankle, rather than his head, and it was a decision that could have really hurt the Rangers.

As it was, Shesterkin didn’t let that disrupt his flow and he went on to dominate for the remainder of the contest, displaying yet another tantalizing sign that he is indeed for real and he’s ready for that crown.

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