Avs score two early, but Rangers get Igor Shesterkin first NHL win

The Colorado Avalanche scored twice in the first seven minutes –par for the course for the Rangers– before the Rangers came storming back for the 5-3 win. The Rangers would score four of the next five goals through the next 30 minutes to grab that 5-3 lead. They then turtled through most of the third to preserve the lead and hand Igor Shesterkin his first NHL win.

• Folks I am excited, we have the stellar team of Mike Milbury and Pierre McGuire!
• I think we all had the same reaction when Igor Shesterkin handled the puck, and that reaction was “holy shit a goalie that can handle the puck.”
• NBCSN just said we call Shesterkin “The Prince.” False. He’s “The Czar.”
• Welcome to New York, Igor. Two goals in the first seven minutes – one from a deflection and one from a giveaway. Meanwhile on the bench, Henrik Lundqvist feels strong empathy.
• Chris Kreider is still the best net-front presence the Rangers have.
• Looks like Tony DeAngelo’s pass got tipped, and the change of speed messed up Cale Makar covering Mika Zibanejad. The team DJ skated to the puck and got a clear shot for the goal.
• That was a clean, and thunderous, hit by Ryan Lindgren. Wow.
• And the refs got it right – they called Nazem Kadri for the instigator.
• Ryan Lindgren won’t return – probably a face injury.
• The Rangers are having themselves a game against one of the better teams in the Western Conference right now. They are spending less time in their own zone. I’ll check the stats at the end of the second to see if it backs me up.
• Also – fewer lazy stick penalties.
• People are so quick to blame Marc Staal for everything. And yes, he deserves blame on Compher’s second goal, but that’s a clear miscommunication on the play with him and Tony DeAngelo.
• And then almost immediately Ryan Strome scores after the Avs forgot he was there.
• Of course the Rangers are rotating five defensemen instead of, you know, using their sixth defenseman that is Brendan Smith.
• Shesterkin has really settled in – none of the three goals thus far were on him. He’s made some difficult saves look easy.
• All the proof you need that Pavel Buchnevich is good and will be just fine – Mike Milbury just called him out as being lazy.
• And he just said Shesterkin “doesn’t look like a superstar” after two periods. Why is this guy still employed by NBC? If I were as bad at my job as he is at his, I would’ve been fired long ago.
• Not a good penalty by Strome there.
• That was a solid kill.
• Holy crap Smith is on defense. Someone check on Rob.
• The Rangers are really turtling on defense right now. 11 shot attempts to 2 right now, that won’t be enough against this team.
• Lazy Buchnevich draws a penalty on the forecheck.
• What a blast – too bad that was offside. The Rangers really started trying to press after they turtled for half the period.
• Panarin empty netter, such a stat padder amirite?
• Big win – not a big fan of turtling like this, but I’ll take a big win over a good team. Trending up.