The New York Rangers and their fans may not have to wait long to see their young phenom goalie Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers recalled the goalie from their AHL affiliate in Hartford, and speculation will be that he will start in goal against Colorado on Tuesday night. The Rangers are deciding to carry three goalies, and it may be that the reported illness that plagued Henrik Lundqvist over the weekend may have more long term effects, or did they decide it was time to take a look at the talented young Russian?
Shesterkin was Shining in Hartford
In 23 games for the Wolf Pack, Shesterkin has a 15-4-3 record with a league-best 1.93 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage along with three shutouts. Shesterkin was a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft who played several years in the KHL before coming to the US this year. He was recently selected to play in the AHL All-Star game. It is expected that he will get a look sooner rather than later as Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev, who have been splitting the goaltending duties for the Rangers, who are allowing the fifth-most goals in the NHL on a per-game average. Many had speculated that when he was drafted that he would be Henrik Lundqvist’s heir apparent.
KHL and Career in Russia
Shesterkin played as a youth with Krylya Sovetov Moscow before he was selected by Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League, 43rd overall in the 2012 KHL Draft. In 117 KHL games over six seasons, Shesterkin had an 88-16-7 record, a 1.68 GAA and .935 save percentages. Among goaltenders with at least 100 KHL appearances, his GAA and save percentage are both records.
Also, Shesterkin represented Russia and was one of the top goaltenders at the 2018 World Championships in Denmark. He finished with two shutout victories and a 1.46 goals-against average with a .942 save percentage, both of which were the third-best at the event. He also played for Russia but did not see any action in the 2018 Winter Olympics in which the Russians won the Gold medal.