Shesterkin hurt in tremendous 1-0 defensive effort win over Sharks
The New York Rangers world was upended just 5:08 into the third period when Igor Shesterkin went down with a leg injury and had to leave the game.
Shesterkin out of the game after this play https://t.co/bbYWDEuwSo
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 4, 2021
Alexandar Georgiev came in and was outstanding in protecting a1-0 lead and the Rangers escaped with a win over a very tough San Jose team.
With the win, the Rangers improved their record to 15-4-3, improved their home winning streak to seven games and their overall winning streak to five games. They are in second place in the Metropolitan Division, having passed the Carolina Hurricanes and only three teams have more points and the Rangers have games in hand on all of them.
But the question of the night is about the Shesterkin injury. The best news came from Gerard Gallant who said as soon as he walked into the press conference, “They’re telling me it’s not as bad as it looks.” He had no other information, except to say that the trainer said not to worry about it and it was called a “minor lower body” injury.
The Rangers are starting one of the busiest segments of their schedule and if the are without their number one netminder, it could bring this Rangers team crashing back to Earth. The best news to come out of this game was that Alexandar Georgiev came in cold and showed no signs of the funk he has been in while stopping nine shots. Georgiev has proved in the past that he is capable of playing well over long stretches and he would certainly need to do that this season.
This was a tightly played defensive struggle with the only goal coming from Ryan Strome six minutes into the first period on the power play. The Rangers had the man advantage because Noah Gregor ran into Shesterkin in the crease. The Sharks complained about the call, but to no avail.
45 seconds into the power play, Artemi Panarin fed Mik Zibanejad who got the puck to Adam Fox who sent it to a wide open Strome who blasted a slap shot past Adin Hill.
Laser. pic.twitter.com/LIsbYQ7iNf
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 4, 2021
It was a goaltenders dual the rest of the way with Adin Hill making a series of fabulous saves to keep the score 1-0. He stoned a number of Rangers from point blank range including Panarin, Filip Chytil, Chris Kreider and Julien Gauthier. Igor Shesterkin was just as good over the first tw periods, with stops on Nick Bonino, Tim Meiers and Kevin Labanc.
Nope. pic.twitter.com/nA1sXVh2IB
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 4, 2021
Georgiev was very good on a Sharks power play shortly after he came in. Gallant said “Coming in on that power play was tough and he made three great saves. He looked solid, I was very happy. It’s a good opportunity for him to step up.”
Gallant was also very happy with the way the Rangers ended the game. “It was an unbelievable last two shifts, keeping them hemmed in their own zone….that’s your best defense, keeping them down there and tonight it worked real well.”
Here is a five minutes recap of the game (it has a lot of work by the goalies).
With a fantastic record, the Rangers proved in this game yet again that they can find ways to win.
Notes on the game
This was the Rangers’ first 1-0 win since Henrik Lundqvist shut out the Detroit Red Wings on February 1, 2020 in Detroit. It was the first home 1-0 win since the Rangers beat Calgary on February 24, 2015 behind Cam Talbot.
This was only the second combined shutout in franchise history and the first since a 2-0 win in Dallas on December 15, 2016. In that game Henrik Lundqvist had to leave for the concussion protocol and was replaced by Antti Raanta for five and a half minutes in the first period.
This was the second shutout of the season for New York. The first was a 4-0 whitewashing of Columbus in October.
Alexandar Georgiev was scheduled to start on Saturday against Chicago and Gallant confirmed it. One question is who is available as a backup. The Rangers could call up Keith Kinkaid or Adam Huska, but it’s unknown if they were of the ten Wolf Pack players who tested positive. The Blueshirts already called up Morgan Barron to replace Greg McKegg who is out on the COVID protocol.
It had been 12 days since Georgiev’s last start, a 5-4 win over Buffalo on November 21 in which he was pulled in the third period.
Shesterkin had missed 21 of his first 89 games in the NHL due to injury, but had been an iron man this season, second among NHL goalies in games played (18) and tenth in minutes played. He is tied for the league lead in wins with 13.
The Ranger power play continues to fire on all cylinders. They have four goals in their last 13 power plays. The penalty kill didn’t allow a goal for the fourth straight game and they have killed off 16 straight penalties.
The goal was Ryan Strome’s first power play goal of the season and his third game winner to lead the team.
Adam Fox notched the primary assist on Strome’s goal and now has a five-game point scoring streak with seven assists. Fox is tied for the scoring lead among defensemen with Aaron Ekblad of Florida. He leads all blueliners with 19 assists.
Fox lead all Rangers in ice time, playing 25:14. He was also on the ice for 3:15 of the four minutes the Rangers were shorthanded.
The third line of Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere and Julien Gauthier had a very good game, but they need to start burying their scoring opportunities. Chytil and Gauthier both crashed the net on rushes. It has been pointed out in our Blue Line Station live threads that when they do that, their linemates need to follow them in for the inevitable rebound.
Logan Couture lineup up Artemi Panarin for an open ice hit and bounced of the Russian.
Breadman said ABSOLUTELY NOT. pic.twitter.com/NB1AGz348j
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 4, 2021
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The Rangers won the faceoff battle 8-3 in the first period. They were a dreadful 11-23 the rest of the game (32%).
Although the Rangers were outshot by the Sharks 26-23 at even strength, they had 15 high danger scoring chances to nine for San Jose.
You have to hand it to the Sharks for playing sound defensive hockey. They allowed only four goals on this four-game road trip, going 3-1.
My 3 Rangers stars
- Adam Fox has to get the top star when the Rangers win a 1-0 game. He set up the only goal in the game, played the most minutes and was stellar in the Rangers defensive zone. Just another great game for the best defenseman in the NHL and it was a game that he bested rivals Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns.
- Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev were tremendous. Shesterkin made some very nice saves early in the game to keep it close. Georgiev has to get kudos for coming in cold and almost immediately, facing a power play. It’s unusual, but the two goalies get to share the second star.
- Ryan Strome gets the third star for scoring the Rangers’ only goal. He also was the only Rangers center to win half of his draws. Strome has been clutch, leading the team with three game winning goals.
The official 3 stars
- Ryan Strome – Rangers
- Adam Fox – Rangers
- Adin Hill – San Jose
What’s next
It’s back-to-back home games for the Rangers as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time since February 2020. Game time Saturday is 8pm, an hour late because there is a Knick game at the Garden in the afternoon.
After Saturday it is off to Chicago Tuesday for the second of a home and away series. They the return home to play the Colorado Avalanche the next night at Madison Square Garden.
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