Igor Shesterkin ready to get Rangers season rolling with preseason action versus Islanders
Igor Shesterkin along with Dylan Garand will be in net when the New York Rangers take on the rival New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden. This is the first preseason game for both teams with face-off scheduled for 7 PM ET.
Last year’s Vezina winner as the NHL’s best goaltender is expected to start and is looking to build upon his success.
“I’m just trying to concentrate on a few specifics aspects of my game,” Shesterkin told reporters last week. “I’m trying to have a season as good as the last one and to keep getting better.”
Igor Shesterkin ready to get going
Shesterkin, 26, was downright amazing in 2021-22 with a 36-13-4 record and leading the league in both GAA (2.07) and SV% (.935). New York placed second in the Metro Division after going 52-24-6 for 110 points on the strength of his goaltending.
The Rangers postseason included a 3-1 series deficit comeback to beat the Penguins in Round 1 and was followed by a win over the Hurricanes in 7 as well. They would ultimately fall to the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.
“Perhaps, there was not enough experience, freshness,” Shesterkin told RBC. “Of course, I would like to play in the final. But, on the other hand, we gained invaluable experience that will be useful to us in the future.”
His understudy is highly-touted goalie prospect Dylan Garand. The fourth round selection in the 2020 draft led Canada to gold at the WJC going 6-0 with a 1.98 GAA, and a .925 SV%.
“He’s a guy I look up to a lot,” the 20 year-old said of Shesterkin. “I like the way he plays and I feel like there’s a lot of similarities in my game so he’s a great guy to watch. It’s great to be behind the scenes here and see what he does. I’m looking forward to keep learning from him.”
“There’s only one goal — to win the Stanley Cup,” Shesterkin said. “I believe we are fully capable of that.”
NY Post
New York Rangers projected lineup versus Islanders
On Sunday, the Rangers held three practice sessions with the first group to take the ice being tonight’s likely lineup.
“I think the majority of the first practice group will play,” Gerard Gallant said. “Some guys don’t have to make the team and some other guys better play their tails off. The lineup for the first three days (scrimmages) meant nothing and [tonight’s] lineup means nothing. It just guys playing with different people.”
Update: Lineup confirmed.
Based on Sunday’s Group 1 session the lineup should be as follows:
- Kreider – Zibanejad – Kakko
- Vesey – Chytil – Kravtsov
- Trivigno – Carpenter – Reaves
- Sykora – Rydahl – Othmann
- Miller – Trouba
- Jones – Schneider
- Hajek – Welinski
- Shesterkin
- Garand
The New York Rangers kickoff the 2022-23 preseason against the Islanders with five more games to play. Here’s the exhibition schedule with some broadcast info.
| DATE | VS. | BROADCAST INFO |
| Monday, Sept. 26 (7:00 PM) | NYI | MSG, MSGSN, NHLN, ESPN 98.7 |
| Tuesday, Sept. 27 (7:00 PM) | @BOS | MSG |
| Thursday, Sept. 29 (7:00 PM) | NJ | MSG |
| Friday, Sept. 30 (7:00 PM) | @NJ | MSG |
| Wednesday, Oct. 5 (7:00 PM) | BOS | TNT |
| Saturday, Oct. 8 (7:00 PM) | @NYI | MSG |
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