Follow Us
Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers continue to roll in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They are now up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning after a 3-2 win in Game 2.
After a Game 1 thrashing, the Rangers handed the Lightning their first back-to-back playoff losses since 2019. It was the longest streak in the four major North American sports leagues (along with MLB, the NBA and the NFL). Thanks to goals from K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko in the first period and Mika Zibanejad in the third period, the young Rangers are looking to finish off the series in Tampa Bay.
Ahead of Sunday’s Game 3, Shesterkin was asked about his comment that Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best in the world after the Rangers win. He stood by his stance despite outplaying him in both games in the series, reiterating that the series is far from over.
#NYR Igor Shesterkin on taking two wins over Andrei Vasilevskiy, who he said he thought was the best goalie in the world before the series started.
“Currently, I don’t think that really matters. I still stand by my opinion… You can’t forget that the series is to four wins.”
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) June 4, 2022
Vasilevskiy, Sheterskin’s fellow native of Russia, has won the Vezina Trophy and made two All-Star games. The Rangers’ budding superstar is staying grounded despite his unreal performances. Perhaps he also doesn’t want to poke the bear and give the Lightning any bulletin-board material.
The Lightning have lost only one playoff game at home so far this season. Last season, during their 23 game-run to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, they lost only three home contests. Igor Shesterkin and the Rangers will have to bring even more intensity in order to remain ahead in the series when it heads back to New York.