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Igor Sestorkin is no longer an impenetrable dike in the Rangers goal as in the basic part of the NHL. Photo: Matt FreedCTK / AP
The joy of the Pittsburgh players against the background of the grief of the goalkeeper Igor Šestťorkin from NY Rangers.Photo: Gene J. PuskarCTK / AP
Even from Igor Šestorkin’s mere pose, there was frustration on the Pittsburgh ice.Photo: Gene J. PuskarCTK / AP
Sad Igor Šestorkin on the Rangers.Photo: Gene J. PuskarCTK / AP
The 26-year-old Russian goalkeeper has become a darling of Madison Square Garden fans. Out of 52 starts, he caught 36 wins with an excellent average of 2.07 goals per game and a success rate of 93.5 percent. It is almost clear that Vezina Trophy will rake in the basic part for his performances. Also in competition with Jacob Markström of Calgary and Juuse Saros of Nashville.
But in recent weeks, New York’s journalistic ‘cell’ has put a lot of pressure on the Hart Trophy candidates for the most useful player, which is quite logical. A native of Moscow, he was a key factor in the rise of the Rangers. Their 110-point gain is the second highest since 1994, when the Manhattan club last won the Stanley Cup.
But it doesn’t look like that after four games of the series with the Penguins, although many personalities, including Sport.cz expert Patrik Eliáš, considered the Rangers to be a black horse in the playoffs. At 1: 3, however, they are eliminated on the edge.
The matches in MSG were caught by Šestťorkin according to his high standards, but in the PPG Paints Arena his image began to crumble.
In the third match, he scored four goals in the first period. In the fourth, six bananas for two-thirds. And after being replaced by Alexander Georgiev, he had to hear the mocking chants of Pittsburgh fans: “We want Igor!”
Igor Shesterkin has allowed 10 goals over the past 3 periods he’s played in.
Something about New York and regular season goalies……pic.twitter.com/2Qw4TDgpsS
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 10, 2022
From the Rangers’ point of view, it was a disgrace. They played without energy, had no structure and the goalkeeper did not iron their mistakes. In two Pittsburgh duels, Sixorkin scored 10 goals out of 45 shots in 59:53 minutes. Disgrace.
“We didn’t play very well in front of him. It was definitely not up to him,” teammate Andrew Copp tried to encourage the goalkeeper.
It was in the goalkeepers that the biggest difference was supposed to be. And in favor of the Rangers, of course. Pittsburgh number one Tristan Jarry is out of the game, substitute Casey DeSmith was injured in the first match and the season ended for him after thigh muscle surgery. Louis Domingue, 30, who caught mainly on a farm in Wilkes-Barre / Scranton, had to score. However, the Penguins secured two home wins with a total of 54 successful interventions.
“Igor is probably really frustrated. Maybe four goals have been scored,” said New York coach Gerard Gallant. “But I’m more disappointed in our team than in him.”
However, on Thursday night, Gallant does not intend to send Georgiev to the goal in the fifth duel in New York. He still believes in Six Art.
“I have every confidence in him. He’s the best goalkeeper in the league. So I’ll decide for him,” said the Rangers coach.
However, if Gallant’s calculation does not work out, it is easy that a player who is said to have burned like paper in the playoffs will be overwhelmed with trophies at the announcement of the NHL awards.
