Rangers' Igor Shesterkin plays in 200th game, earns 126th victory with shutout
Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers makes a save in the second period against Kasperi Kapanen of the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Madison Square Garden. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves to earn his second shutout of the season in the Rangers’ 4-0 win over St. Louis on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. The shutout was the 13th of his career and the victory was his 126th in 200 career games.
“It was a good day,’’ he said. “I’m so happy I didn’t make any mistakes.’’
Shesterkin’s 126 wins are the third most for a goaltender in his first 200 games. He trails Bill Durnan (134) and Michel (Bunny) Larocque (127).
Shesterkin is 27-13-2 this season. “He’s been really dialed in lately, the last 45 days or so,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said. “But watching him his whole career — he’s just an elite goaltender. [Totaling 126 wins in 200 games], that’s a pretty remarkable number . . . That speaks volumes to him.’’
Trouba out two to three weeks
Defenseman Jacob Trouba missed the game with a lower-body injury that general manager Chris Drury said will keep him out two to three weeks. Zac Jones replaced him and Braden Schneider moved up from the bottom defense pair to partner with K’Andre Miller.
Schneider had five shots on goal, one hit, one takeaway and one blocked shot in 16:46.
“Really good,’’ Laviolette said when asked how Schneider and Miller looked. “This is a great opportunity for Schneids to step up and play some minutes and take on a big responsibility. I thought that pair was really good tonight.’’
Replacing Trouba, a fiery leader and a rugged, shot-blocking defenseman, is a tall task. Entering Saturday, he led the Rangers in blocked shots with 170 and was second on the team in hits with 165. Schneider’s total of 93 blocked shots entering Saturday was second on the team. He was fifth on the team and second among defensemen with 119 hits.
“That’s tough,’’ Laviolette said before the game. “I mean, he’s a leader of this team. He brings a certain style of play that we’ll miss. He’s physical, he plays great defense for us. He carries a lot of the tough minutes and the heavy workload. And so other guys are gonna have to step up. It’s a great opportunity for somebody to step up and push into that position.’’
Ruhwedel scratched
Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, who was acquired from the Penguins on Friday for a fourth-round pick in 2027, was the only one of the three newcomers to not make his Rangers debut Saturday. Forwards Jack Roslovic and Alex Wennberg were in the lineup. Ruhwedel and forward Jonny Brodzinski were the two healthy players who were scratched.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
