Blue Line Station
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Positives for the Rangers from the long playoffs run

By Steve Paulus

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Chris Kreider #20 and Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers hug after being defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 11, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Chris Kreider #20 and Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers hug after being defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on June 11, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 11: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes a glove save against Anthony Cirelli #71 o. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 11: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes a glove save against Anthony Cirelli #71 o. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Igor Shesterkin

Igor Shesterkin is everything he was billed to be.  He’s going to win the Vezina Trophy and he was the primary reason the Rangers got as far as they did.  Yes, that first Stamkos goal was one he should have stopped and he imploded twice against Pittsburgh, but for his first playoffs, he confirmed what we learned in the regular season.

Most important, we learned that has the stamina.  A lot was made of the fact that he had barely played 40 games in a single season before this year. Well, he played 53 games in the regular season and followed that with 20 games in 40 days in the playoffs.  He’s got what it takes and after January 1, he avoided any injuries, our biggest fear.

He justified that big four-year contract he signed last summer. It was the biggest payout to a goalie on his second NHL contract in league history and it raised some eyebrows.  Now, we wish that he had more than three years left on his deal.

A progression from John Vanbiesbrouck to Mike Richter to Henrik Lundqvist to Igor Shesterkin.  The New York Rangers and their fans have been very, very fortunate.

At 26, Shesterkin is a senior citizen compared to the next group of youngsters who excelled in the playoffs.

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