Igor Shesterkin sparkles as the New York Rangers win eighth straight against Stars
What a solid performance from the New York Rangers. Taking an early, they forced the Dallas Stars to chase the game. When Igor Shesterkin remembered that he is infact a very good goaltender and stood on his head in the third period, stopping 41 of 42. He was the best Ranger tonight as he committed multiple robberies on the ice. This looked like the Igor of old tonight.
New York would strike first through their most dominant line on the season. Alexis Lafreniere couldn't put a loose puck home out in front, but he was able to pull it back and got it over to Artemi Panarin. The breadman kept it simple and laid a beautiful pass straight into the wheelhouse of Adam Fox who blasted the puck home from the point for his ninth of the season a little less than 8 minutes into the game. A good start for the Rangers.
On a four-on-four session in the second period, the Rangers would get another tally from their promising young Finnish winger. Erik Gustafsson was playing catch at the point before getting it back and driving up the middle of the ice. Having no further line to the net, Gustafsson gives it off to Kaapo Kakko who slapped it home. It's a five game point streak for him, and the Rangers double their lead.
On the ensuing powerplay when Jamie Benn came out of the box, the Stars would strike. Benn was in front of the net trying to smack the loose puck behind Igor who had already made 3 big saves on the kill. The rebound would pop out to Miro Heiskanen, who would score in his first game as a father. Congratulations to him, but the Rangers lead is back to just one goal and these two teams start to remind us all why they're so close together in the standings.
Vincent Trocheck would hit the bullseye on the empty net goal to make it a 3-1 lead. It put the game out of reach for the Stars with 101 seconds left, and the Rangers were going to go on and win their eighth straight win. They were comfortably leading, and Igor Shesterkin bailed the Blueshirts out in the third period. He had himself an attempt at the empty net, but it wasn't to be and the Rangers win.