Igor Shesterkin has regained his composure since the start of the series against the Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant believes he will be the key player in this second-round series.
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On Sunday, the 26-year-old Russian saved 43 pucks in a 2-1 win that allowed the Blueshirts to sign their first win in three games. Shesterkin only allowed four goals against the Hurricanes for a .956 save percentage.
There will be very little leeway for the Hart and Vézina Trophy nominee against the team that scored the first goal at the end of the regular season. But Gallant wasn’t trying to ease the pressure, quite the opposite.
“Igor was exceptional for us and that was key,” head coach Gerard Gallant said after the game, according to the National Hockey League’s (NHL) official website. He is the key player in our group. (…) That’s exactly what we expected.”
Correct your mistakes
Well aware of his role, Shesterkin seemed smitten with the goal he conceded to Nino Niederreiter on Sunday. It was a weak backhand shot that slipped under his arm. That net reduced the gap to a single goal and the keeper was careful not to give up.
The hurricanes certainly gave him a chance to recover, but in the eyes of the prime prospect, the numbers are more impressive than the performance itself.
“I gave up a goal and let the team down,” he said through a translator. I had to fix the mistake I made. If you miss a goal, you’re disappointed for a moment, say a few mean words and forget it.
“It’s good that she [aient décoché] so many shots. They really tried to shoot everywhere to find their game, but none of those shots were really dangerous.
Shesterkin’s teammates were never afraid to see him fall, even though he conceded at least three first-round goals in six of seven games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not even when he was busted out of Game 3 after giving up four goals on 15 shots, or the next after six goals on 30 shots.
On the contrary, the confidence is maintained when he’s on the ice.
“We’ve talked a lot about it, the confidence he gives us when he makes the saves look easy,” said Chris Kreider.
The fourth game of this series takes place in New York on Tuesday. The Hurricanes have lost all four away games since the start of the playoffs.