NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers
NEW YORK (77 WABC) – Igor Shesterkin gave a performance in net for the New York Rangers worthy of an Oscar on Sunday night.
The rookie netminder made 42 saves for his fifth win in six career NHL starts as the Rangers scored three times in the third period on their way to a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The victory pulled the Ranges within nine points of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
“Every game from here on out is huge,” Brady Skjei said. “We have to build off this win and bring it on the road in Winnipeg and Minnesota and Columbus. Get a little run here going. We have to really focus and play our best hockey from here on out.”
It was Kaapo Kakkos goal at 9:20 of the third that ended up being the big difference-maker. New York was able to come away with the puck along the boards and Filip Chytil was able to feed Kakko in front of the net to give the Rangers a two-goal cushion.
Kakko has three points in his last four games and the goal on Sunday was his first since Jan. 2 against Calgary.
It came in handy with Trevor Moore scoring just over a minute later to pull the Kings within one.
The Rangers solidified the win with a pair of goals in the closing three minutes. Artemi Panarin scored off a rebound for his 28th goal of the year and Tony DeAngelo scored an empty-net goal at 17:49.
“These guys did a good job,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “It was hard hockey out there. It may not have been pretty hockey, but it was hard hockey.”
Greg McKegg scored the Rangers opening goal 2:23 into the first period and Shesterkin held the Kings off the board until the 10:47 mark of the third. Shesterkin has been one of the bright spots for the Rangers of late, playing impressive hockey since being called up in early January from AHL Hartford.
He has gone 5-1-0 in six starts and has won back-to-back starts following Sundays victory.
“Some of the saves hes making, even dating back to the Toronto game, I mean he made a couple in the second period that were unbelievable,” Strome said about Shesterkin. “It seems like hes riding a confidence wave right now. He just kind of seems like he sits back and waits for the puck. Hes really calm in there and not afraid to throw some sauce up the ice. Hes fun to see in there.”
The Kings dropped their fifth consecutive game and end a four-game road without a win. The Rangers begin a three-game road trip on Tuesday in Winnipeg.
