When it comes to the New York Rangers and their goaltending, it will always start and end with Igor Shesterkin.
Shesterkin, 27, is currently (Monday, January 30) 21-8-0-7 with a 2.45 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage, and one shutout. He was named to his first All-Star game and won the Vezina Trophy last season as the league’s top goaltender when he was 36-13-0-4 with a 2.07 goals-against average, a .935 save percentage, and six shutouts.
While his numbers this season are still more than solid, they certainly are not Shesterkin-like numbers. He is not the same goaltender he was last season.
That brings us to backup Jaroslav Halak. Halak, 37, got off to a tough start this season, and fans were even clamoring for him to be sent down to the American Hockey League to play with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Halak was 1-6-0-1 with an .888 save percentage and a 3.04 goals-against average in his first eight starts after signing a one-year contract with the team in the offseason. Clearly, in those first eight starts, he was not himself.
Luckily for the Rangers and even Shesterkin, Halak has turned his play around in a big way. He is 6-6-0-1 with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
His numbers are much better than they were after his first several games, and he might be the league’s hottest goaltenders right now. In his last five starts, he has won all five games and has posted a 1.80 goals-against average, and a .938 save percentage.
Here is a closer look at what Halak accomplished in his last five stars:
– December 17: Stopped 29 of 32 shots in a win over the Philadelphia Flyers
– January 1: Stopped 32 of 35 shots in a win over the Florida Panthers
– January 5: Stopped 17 of 18 shots in a win over the Montreal Canadiens
– January 16: Stopped 24 of 25 shots in a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets
– January 27: Stopped 33 of 34 shots in a win over the Vegas Golden Knights
Halak was especially good in his team’s 4-1 win over the Golden Knights on January 27 at Madison Square Garden. He made both significant and timely saves throughout the game and helped the Rangers pick up two crucial points heading into their bye/All-Star week.
With the way he has played, he definitely deserves some more playing time. Yes, Shesterkin will always be the top dog, but in these last five starts, Halak has shown that he can win games and do so consistently.
It will get very busy for the Blueshirts once they return from the All-Star break. While Shesterkin will be relied on to carry the team into the playoffs, head coach Gerard Gallant should not be afraid to turn to Halak to give Shesterkin a breather.
