Igor Shesterkin is at the forefront of the New York Rangers' resurgence this season.
Among NHL goalies who have started at least 20 games, the 26-year-old is first in save percentage (.937) and second in goals against average (2.07). Shesterkin also set a Rangers record Monday when he got his 20th win in his 26th game, the fewest needed to reach 20 victories in New York history. It took Gilles Villemure 28 games to reach 20 wins in 1971-72.
It was Shesterkin's seventh straight victory and 11th in 12 games.
"It's repetitive for us, we know how good he is," Rangers defenseman Adam Fox said. "He gives us a chance to win every game even when we're not at our best. Every guy on this team could sing his praises for a while. He's definitely been our backbone and is huge for us."
A panel of 16 NHL.com writers voted for the winner of the Vezina Trophy at the halfway point of the season, and Shesterkin is ahead in the race to be named the League's top goalie by a close margin; he received 50 points and four first-place votes. Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jack Campbell of the Toronto Maple Leafs finished second and third in the voting, respectively. Others receiving first-place votes were Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes (37 points) and Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators (32).
"He reads the play very, very well," former Rangers goalie Mike Richter said of Shesterkin at the start of the season. "That's a really tough thing to teach and he comes equipped with it. He certainly has a work ethic and great technique. These are the types of players you want in the organization. They come with a level of talent and sophistication to the game with the absolute determination to improve it."
Shesterkin's play has the Rangers (28-11-4) in first place in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins. New York finished 11 points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff berth last season.
"I'm the same guy that came from Moscow that's pursuing a dream and trying to reach the highest level," Shesterkin said through a translator. "I'm wholly confident that we can do better this season. This season we have a great team. We can achieve anything."
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers, 50 points (four first-place votes); Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning, 46 (four first-place votes); Jack Campbell, Toronto Maple Leafs, 45 (two first-place votes); Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes, 37 (three first-place votes); Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators, 32 (three first-place votes); Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins, 16; Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames, 7; Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks, 4; Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers, 3.
NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report
