Do the Rangers have a goalie decision to make against Carolina?

As the New York Rangers head into Carolina for a pivotal matchup against the Hurricanes, a decision must be made on which goaltender will man the crease; a decision which may not be as straightforward as it seems.

Igor Shesterkin has taken the league by storm, rattling off seven wins in eight attempts and reviving the Rangers’ once slim playoff chances. After capturing yet another victory Wednesday night in Chicago, Shesterkin would seem to be in line to start against the Hurricanes Friday night, a game that is chock full of playoff implications.

That decision may not be as cut and dry as it may seem, however, as both Alexandar Georgiev and Henrik Lundqvist have a claim to the crease in Carolina. The three-headed monster that the Rangers find themselves stuck with enables them the ability to roll out a solid goaltender on a nightly basis, and come Friday, all three will be eager to grab that start.

It is not surprising that most people believe Shesterkin should be the go-to netminder for the remainder of the season, especially since his recent play has the same Binnington-Esque feel that allowed the Blues to go on an improbable run. With a 2.28 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage, Shesterkin has been sensational and has earned the right to play on a nightly basis for the Blueshirts.

If Shesterkin doesn’t get the nod, David Quinn might overlook Georgiev and start the veteran Lundqvist instead. In his career, Lundqvist has faced the Hurricanes 46 times, posting a record of 33-12-1 to go along with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. Despite his struggles this season, the King has risen to his usual self against the Canes this season, winning all three of his starts against them while stopping more than 40 shots in two of those contests.

Lundqvist is in the head of the Hurricanes, who seem unable to beat him no matter how many glorious chances they accumulate against the Rangers. On top of his history against them, this might be the last opportunity he has to get a start during this stretch run, especially since it appears that the younger goaltenders are both ahead of him on the depth chart.

And then you have the third man in the rotation, Alexandar Georgiev. Although I do not believe he will start Friday night’s tilt in Carolina, it wouldn’t be the most absurd scenario if he does. While Shesterkin was injured, albeit briefly, Georgiev won two of his three starts, stopping 90 of the 96 shots he faced.

Being able to trust three options in goal against a divisional opponent is a good problem to have, but head coach David Quinn certainly has a tough decision in front of him. I believe he will wisely ride the hot hand and play Shesterkin, but if the game does go south, many will be left wondering why he didn’t start the veteran against a team he has dominated countless times.