Rangers showing championship pedigree, finding multiple ways to win

After a Game 1 win propelled by power plays and the effectiveness of the special teams unit, it was goaltender Igor Shesterkin who stood on his head and weathered a formidable Carolina Hurricanes attack to give the New York Rangers a 2-0 series lead.

While the game-winning goal was ultimately scored on the power play in the second overtime period by Vincent Trocheck, it was Shesterkin’s 54 saves that kept the Rangers afloat and even gave the Blueshirts a shot in the end.

“He was fantastic,” Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought he played a heck of a game. You’re in overtime too and when your goaltender is making those saves… Those saves have to be made, he was fantastic, and like I said I thought we got better as the game went on and I thought he got better as the game went on too.”

Those 54 saves did not even sniff his playoff career-high of 79 from two years ago in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they were the second most in his playoff career. The netminder breathed life into a Rangers offense that was stagnant at times, being out-shot 57 to 39. Yet, when their legs looked tired and out of gas, the Rangers did what championship teams do: they found a way to win.

“This isn’t going to be a control all 60 minutes and move on to the next game,” Laviolette said. “The game was fast, it was furious, it was physical, a lot of energy and emotion inside the game.”

The mark of a truly elite championship team can be seen when they seemingly shift identities and win in multiple fashions. Sunday and Tuesday seemed to be two polar opposite games as the Rangers dominated the power play and dictated the pace Sunday afternoon. Tuesday night was an entirely different story as Carolina made adjustments to thwart the Rangers offensive attack. Still, Shesterkin’s play in net gave the Rangers’ offense the time they needed to finally break through and clinch a commanding 2-0 series lead.

And while he should be garnering all of the headlines as New York heads to Carolina for Game 3, one nugget that could fly under the radar is the Rangers penalty kill. The Canes have had 10 total power plays thus far this series and have yet to convert a single opportunity. Considering how Carolina had the second-best power play percentage in the NHL this year at 26.9%, it is clear the Blueshirts have imposed their will on special teams.

“We’re working hard,” Laviolette said. “I know what they have on the other side for the power play and I think our penalty kill is working really hard, trying to do the right things. We’ve gotten big saves from Igor when we needed them.”

It would be easy for the Rangers to take their foot off the gas now after a massive win and taking a commanding series lead. However, this series is far from over with the talent that Carolina has, something that Laviolette has constantly reminded his team of.

“I know on the other side it’s a top-ranked power play, a top-ranked penalty kill, we better respect both sides of that and we better make sure we work.”