The favorite to win the Vezina Trophy, Igor Shesterkin is now among the finalists for the Hart Trophy as well.
The New York Rangers netminder had a stellar year during the regular season and is certainly deserving to be in the running for the NHL’s MVP award. In 53 games this season, Shesterkin went 36-13-4, while posting a 2.07 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
He also had six shutouts during that stretch. Shesterkin, who led the NHL in both goals-against average and save percentage, posted the seventh-highest save percentage in League history.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid were also named finalists for the award.
The postseason hasn’t been as kind to the Russsian Netminder, going 2-3-0 during the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins and having to be pulled twice during the series. He has a .905 save percentage in six career playoff games this year.
Sorokin turned things around in Game 5 making 29 saves and a number of crucial saves to help lift the Rangers to a series saving win to force a Game 6.
“He made some real key saves,” Rangers coach Gerad Gallant said on Wednesday. “He battles, he plays the puck real well.”
Igor Shesterkin is the second Rangers player in the past three seasons to be named a finalist for the Hart Trophy and he would be the fifth Ranger to win the award. Mark Messier was the last New York Ranger to win the award back in 1992.
Chuck Rayner was the last Rangers goaltender to win the Hart in 1950 and only two goalies have won the award in this century, according to the NHL.
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Shesterkin in his third NHL season with the Rangers and has now appeared in 100 career NHL regular-season starts. He is 62-29-7 over the course of his career and he has eight shutouts in that time.
He has posted a 2.31 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage as well as having faced 2,815 shots in the NHL.
