After three Penguins failed to score on Igor Shesterkin during the shootout in the Rangers victory Saturday, the star Russian netminder’s .738 save percentage in the skills competition is the best in franchise history.
Stopping 62 of the 84 shootout attempts he’s faced in his seven-year NHL career, Shesterkin is No. 5 in the league since making his debut during the 2019-20 season.
He trails only Juuse Saros (.806), Elvis Merzlikins (.747), Jordan Binnington (.705) and Jake Oettinger (.739).
“It’s comforting, I’m not gonna lie,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of having Shesterkin in net for a shootout. “I think he’s the best goalie in the game. Just this compete level. He’s an elite player, and so it’s comforting to have him between the pipes, whether it be in the shootout or anytime, for that matter. He has the ability to change the outcome of a game.”
Saturday was Shesterkin’s second game back in goal after a 13-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
He has stopped 52 of 57 shots since returning to the crease, bringing his season save percentage to .913.
These are also Shesterkin’s first days around the Rangers without Artemi Panarin, who has been his teammate in New York since his first recall in January 2020.
“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Shesterkin said of his compatriot. “Of course, it’s pretty tough for us to lose a player of that caliber. I hope he enjoys the trade. We wish him all the best.”
Asked how much Shesterkin is going to play over these final 23 games, Sullivan insinuated it would be decided in collaboration with the 30-year-old.
“We’ll talk with Shesky, and we’ll manage it together,” the veteran coach said. “But, obviously, he feels really good right now. He feels strong. He worked hard in the return-to-play process that he went through. But as far as what his workload looks like moving forward, I don’t know that I can give you a definitive answer yet. He’s going to play, I can tell you that.”
The 76.9 faceoff win percentage the Rangers posted in Saturday’s win was the club’s highest in a game since the NHL began tracking draws in 1997-98.
It is tied for the 10th highest single-game percentage in the league, as well as the highest since the Oilers posted a 79.6 percent mark in March 2024.
The Rangers were off Sunday before facing the Blue Jackets on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
