Igor Shesterkin still ‘elite’ for Rangers as he turns 30
WASHINGTON — Igor Shesterkin stole his team a point against the Hurricanes on Monday behind a 33-save performance in Raleigh.
On Tuesday, the Rangers star goalie celebrated his 30th birthday in the first season of the record-breaking eight-year, $92 million deal he signed just over a year ago.
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“I think age is a relative term,” head coach Mike Sullivan said after the Rangers practiced at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia on Tuesday. “I think there’s a lot involved with that. Some players age out sooner than others. I think lifestyle, training habits, work ethic, passion for what you do — all of those things play into it. I think Shesty is a guy that controls a lot of those things. You look at the game he played last night, it was an elite performance.
“As a 30-year-old goalie in this league, he’s got a lot of experience. I think he’s one of the elite goaltenders in the league, and he has the benefit of wisdom.”
Before Tuesday’s slate of games, Shesterkin was one of just three goalies in the NHL with at least 30 starts.
The Russian netminder got a run of seven straight games at the end of November into early December, when backup Jonathan Quick was on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
Of the three goalies, which includes the Predators’ Juuse Saros (.898) and the Flames’ Dustin Wolf (.899), Shesterkin’s .910 save percentage and goals-against average (2.51) is the best.
Among the 29 goalies with at least 20 starts, Shesterkin’s 817 total saves are also the most.
The next goalie with the most saves, Saros, has more than 70 fewer (746).
Adam Edstrom is set to miss his 15th consecutive game Wednesday against the Capitals.
According to Sullivan, the big-bodied fourth-liner has yet to resume skating as he continues to rehab a lower-body injury.
There is no update on a timeline for his return.
Rookie Noah Laba was sporting a stitched and wrapped pinky finger at practice Tuesday after taking a slash from Alexander Nikishinin Raleigh on Monday.
He was wearing a sort of protective guard as well.
The Rangers are scheduled to practice at loanDepot park in Miami, home of MLB’s Miami Marlins, Thursday afternoon ahead of the Winter Classic against the Panthers on Friday.
After practice, the team will get to have their families join them on the ice.
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