The Rangers take on the Penguins for the final time - at least in the regular season - tonight at MSG. New York is 2–1 this season against Pittsburgh, defeating the Penguins 3-2 on March 29 on the road. The Blueshirts enter the contest up four points with on the Penguins with each teams having played 71 contests.
Tonight’s lineup should be the same from the win over New Jersey on Tuesday. That means Justin Braun will be paired again to the left of Baby Trouba. The only change will be Igor Shesterkin back between the pipes in place of Alexander Georgiev.
Shesterkin’s recent struggles have been well documented. Since March 10, he is just 4-4-1 with a 3.11 goals-against average and .886 save percentage. One of those wins did come against Pittsburgh on March 29. During that game he made a key stop late on Jake Guenztel, so not all is lost. But he clearly has not looked the same.
Whether it’s overuse, as this is the most he has played in a season, normal regression to the mean, a failure to track pucks, which usually is one of his strengths, or all the above, Igor has looked human lately. For New York to go anywhere in the post season, the team needs the Super Human Shesterkin, not just the one who has been mere mortal. Unless the defense, which has been better, or offense, who also has shown some signs of improvement, especially 5x5 lately, can mask a struggling netminder, if Igor doesn’t revert to prior form, it will be a one and done, irrespective of who the Rangers play.
With a pair of back-to-backs, Georgiev will play at least two of the remaining 10 games following tonight’s contest. The good news is that New York has two full days off after the Ottawa game this Saturday, Detroit contest the following Saturday and the Boston match up the final Saturday of the season. Coach Gerald Gallant and goaltending coach Benoit Allaire can give Igor all the rest he needs in between games while also allowing him to get the practice work required to help him get sharp.
If a slump was going to happen, now was the perfect time. Igor has a few weeks to right the ship and peak for the playoffs. In addition, a window exists for Igor to work on his craft, determine what might be wrong and fix it with Allaire. This doesn’t mean we aren’t concerned and worry quotient won’t rise the longer this continues, but I am not panicking just yet. Though I am at DEFCON 4 and inching closer to 3 at this time.
Win tonight in Artemi Panarin’s 500th game and New York is all but locked into at least the second spot in the division. The Rangers would be up by six points with 10 games remaining. Barring a complete collapse, the Blueshirts would have home ice at least in round one of the postseason. Beyond that depends on if Carolina stems their recent downward slide.