NY Rangers goaltender has been the Team MVP in Month 1 of the season

It’s no secret that Igor Shesterkin was terrible on Thursday night, but even the best in the league will have a bad game once in a while. It’s a fact of life, and it won’t be the last time Shesterkin will find himself riding the bench after giving up five goals in a single game. 

Overall, he’s been their best player, and before last night’s debacle, Shesterkin was enjoying a remarkable season, with a 0.933 save percentage, a shutout, and just 20 goals allowed on 299 shots. Still, Shesterkin’s numbers aren’t bad, with a 0.920 save percentage and a 2.62 GAA, so yes, I can confidently say he’ll be just fine in the very near future. 

You can even argue that it hasn’t been all Shesterkin either this season as backup Jonathan Quick has also enjoyed a solid campaign. Quick won’t put forth as many starts as Shesterkin, but when he gets a chance to play, we know he’ll make the most of it, evidenced by a 0.946 save percentage and an incredible 1.65 GAA. 

NY Rangers have a dynamic goaltending duo that has been its lifeblood

About two weeks ago, I talked about how the Rangers have few, if any, weak position groups on the team. In a league with a salary cap, it’s tough to accomplish, but it can be done when you have one of the NHL’s best goaltenders and also one of its most capable backup netminders on the same roster. 

Talents like Shesterkin and Quick are those who can elevate weaker spots, thanks to their ability to keep games close when lesser goaltenders could have a much tougher time making that happen. Such talent allows players like Artemi Panarin and Company to look like one of the most dominating scoring units, while a slip-up or two defensively often doesn’t spell trouble.

So, amidst a poor game that was last night’s debacle against a seemingly weak Buffalo Sabres team, Shesterkin will continue to be that high-quality player. And even if he isn’t, there will come a time this season when he will bounce back. 

Remember, Shesterkin struggled a little with inconsistent play this time last year before he once again regained his Vezina-winning ways. Either way, he’ll return to form and even if it takes time, Jonathan Quick is still more than capable of holding things down more often.