The Rangers have won just three of their last 10 games, and a big part of why is their inability to generate shots on goal. Across their last five contests, the Blueshirts have averaged just 19 shots on goal per game- a number nowhere near high enough in a league where starting goalies routinely save 90-percent of shots they face.
This struggle to generate offense has shifted an immense burden onto the shoulders of starting goalie Igor Shesterkin. The most recent Rangers game is a perfect example of everything wrong with the team. Saturday afternoon saw the Blueshirts welcome the Vancouver Canucks to Madison Square Garden for a game in honor of Sam Rosen and with huge playoff implications. In a game the Rangers needed to win, the team came out and generated just 12 shots on goal. No NHL team can put on a 12-shot performance and expect to win, let alone gain ground in a playoff race, but thanks to Shesterkin, the Rangers did just that.
Shesterkin made 36 saves en route to a 5-3 New York win- papering over the cracks of a flawed Blueshirts team, and keeping them alive for a few more days.
Quinn Hughes rips by a bunch of Ranger defenders on an end to end rush but he can't beat Igor Shesterkin
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) March 22, 2025
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL#Canucks #NYR pic.twitter.com/SDk0NKDYWv
In their last five games, the Rangers have reached 30 shots on goal just once, in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, while generating less than 25 shots on every other occasion. Being 2-3-0 during this stretch is almost a best case scenario for the Blueshirts. No team in the NHL can generate so few shots on goal and expect to earn points in almost half of their games. Shesterkin absolutely stole a game for the Rangers on Saturday afternoon, but he can't be expected to do that every night.
The #Canucks deserved a better fate. Out shot the Rangers 39-12. Allowing five goals on 12 shots hurt, as Shesterkin was far better than Lankinen. Miller with the dagger empty netter while Pettersson left injured. @MoneyPuckdotcom pic.twitter.com/jCEUfP3GdZ
— Grady Sas (@GradySas) March 22, 2025
The Blueshirts have 11 games remaining in the season and are somehow still fighting for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Seven of these 11 games are against teams currently in playoff spots and the Rangers can expect to go 0-7-0 if they plan on generating a measly 12 shots per game. Even if the Rangers sneak into the postseason, the issue will still need correcting or the Blueshirts will find themselves being swept before they can get their skates on.