How Gerard Gallant might make the most of Rangers’ goalies over remaining weeks
BUFFALO — Of their next-to-last set of back-to-back video games of the season, the Rangers deployed their goaltenders like they normally do.
Igor Shesterkin confronted the Devils within the Rangers’ 2-1 loss Thursday night time and Jaroslav Halak took on the Sabres on Friday at KeyBank Heart.
It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the Rangers director of goaltending, Benoit Allaire, and head coach Gerard Gallant divide up the remaining six begins.
Shesterkin might get the beginning nod in opposition to the Capitals in Washington on Sunday and once more on Wednesday on the Backyard when the Lightning come to city. These are among the higher groups left on the Rangers schedule.
Final season, former backup Alexandar Georgiev performed the ultimate two video games of the common season in opposition to the Canadiens and Capitals.
If the Rangers wish to comply with that very same schedule, Halak seemingly will play the final two video games in opposition to the Sabres and Maple Leafs.
“He’s a great veteran man,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant mentioned of Halak. “He’s fairly near 300 wins in his profession. He’s performed nice hockey for us. He’s been excellent for us and that’s what you want. You want sturdy goaltending and we’ve obtained that with our guys.”
Getting into the sport in opposition to Buffalo, Halak was 9-2-2 in his final 14 video games.
Friday night time was his twenty second begin of the season, over which he has collected a 10-8-3 report with a 2.68 goals-against common and a .905 save share.
Together with his help on the Rangers’ lone aim from Chris Kreider within the loss to the Devils on Thursday, Mika Zibanejad established a brand new career-high 82 factors (38 targets, 44 assists).
He has 14 factors in his final 9 video games and 33 factors in his final 26 video games.
Ryan Lindgren was sidelined Friday night time for the sixteenth time within the Rangers’ final 17 video games with a shoulder damage.
Gallant mentioned he “is aware of” the 25-year-old defenseman will play earlier than the tip of the common season.
The Rangers assigned ahead Adam Edstrom to AHL Hartford on Friday. In September, Edstrom was loaned to the Swedish Hockey League’s Rogle BK, for whom he appeared in 42 video games throughout the 2022-23 season.
Edstrom, who the Rangers chosen 161st general within the 2019 draft, set new profession highs in targets (9), assists (10) and factors (19).