Breaking Down the Rangers' Disaster against Buffalo

On Thursday night after goaltender Igor Shesterkin gave up five goals on 12 shots, the superstar was pulled in the second period.

Although you wouldn't know it from the Nov. 7 contest, have been winning largely because of Shesterkin's stellar play. The New York Rangers eventually lost 6-1, with their record falling to 8-3-1 so far this campaign.

“It really unraveled in the second,″ Rangers defenseman and captain Jacob Trouba said. “Our goalie has kind of kept us in this thing for the first 12 games. We’ve got to be better and give up less quality chances.”

Shesterkin entered the matchup with a 6-2-1 with a 2.22 goals-against average, allowed a goal by Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin 26 seconds into the game. He then gave up four goals in the second period — including three in a span of 2:12 span — as the Sabres took a 5-0 lead. He was then promptly pulled and replaced by fellow-tendy Jonathan Quick

This is the first time the Russian native has been pulled from a game since Oct. 19, 2023.

Will Cuylle scored his his fourth goal of the season off of a tip-in from a set up from defenseman Zac Jones.

Shesterkin is in his final season of a four-year, $22.67 million contract and there has been talk of him wanting to be the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history.

There has been plenty of talk regarding contract negotiations for him; one can only hope that isn't what got to him mentally on Thursday evening.

Once replaced by Quick, the backup tallied nine saves and only allowed one goal in relief — for a .900 save percentage.

Perhaps it was the failure to get off to a hot start for the Rangers, as they truly could not have gotten off to a worse start. After the Sabres won a board battle on the opening shift of the night, a quick passing sequence saw Rasmus Dahlin with the puck in the left circle.

He went unchecked, but Shesterkin had a clear look and was in position, yet somehow the shot beat him 5-hole just 26 seconds into the game.

Starting the second period on the power play, the Rangers were completely stymied by the Sabres. And 45 seconds after a successful kill, the Sabres scored to made it 2-0 before scoring another three.

“It was just a bad day,” Shesterkin said postgame.

In the third period, after Cuylle's goal, the Sabres scored their final goal of the night at 11:55 on the power play.

Up Next

The Blueshirts need to figure it out, and figure it out fast. After the three-game homestand at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers will hit the road to take on the Detroit Red Wings.

This will be the third time the Red Wings and New York have faced off this season. The Rangers won the Oct. 14 contest 4-1 and the Oct. 17 contest 5-2.