Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was unable to help his team in the first period of Game 3 of the series against Pittsburgh. Almost every fourth shot became an assist for the opponent. Shesterkin has never had such a disastrous 20-minute break this season.

Strong weak link

But the Russian goalkeeper of the Rangers was considered the strongest link in the team before the start of the series. It was on his quality of play that it largely depended whether the team from New York would catch the series or not be able to hold back the onslaught of Pittsburgh’s attacks. Because in all other lines, except for the goalkeeper, the quality of the players in both clubs is approximately equal.

And if at first Shesterkin heroically repelled 79 shots in a three-hour meeting with which the series began, then he acted as an ideal support for his partners, conceding 3 goals less than the Penguins goalkeeper in the second match, then the third match began with a complete fiasco .

I threw myself

Pittsburgh scored the first puck into Shesterkin’s possession in the second minute: the goal turned out to be chaotic, because the puck ricocheted into the net from the Rangers defender, who was standing close to the goalkeeper. Shesterkin did not have the opportunity to see her, as his partner blocked his view. The players from New York did not have to grieve for a long time – the Finnish forward Kaapo Kakko soon equalized the score, and the rivals continued to fight for the initiative.

But then, in the middle of the period, Shesterkin had a failed seven-minute period, during which he could not cope with three throws. The first of them turned out to be especially offensive: the goalkeeper caught a puck launched from a distance into a trap, but because of an opponent interfering nearby, he could not calmly press it to the ice – as a result, the projectile flew out of the trap onto the ice and squeezed between the goalkeeper’s legs into the goal. One of the most annoying pucks in Shesterkin’s career.

After another two minutes, the Russian goalkeeper was a little let down by the reaction and he did not have time to react to finishing off. And in the episode with the fourth goal, Shesterkin had no chance – he was shot almost point-blank.

“Rangers” that, replaced Shesterkin ?!

Having completed the period with a score of 1:4, the Rangers took to the ice with a new goalkeeper for the next twenty minutes. Alexander Georgiev changed his compatriot, and not everyone could believe it. “Rangers” that, replaced Shesterkin ?! fans asked each other in surprise on social networks, accustomed to considering him one of the best goalkeepers in the NHL. But even the best have bad days.

Photo: © REUTERS / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The change of the iron starting goalkeeper shook up the whole team, which began to look for happiness in the attack. The Rangers had a whirlwind second period, outscoring Pittsburgh 17-7 and scoring three times. One of the goals was chalked up by Artemy Panarin, who converted a shot from Ovechkin’s office.

Only ten minutes was enough for the Rangers to correct the mistakes of the starting period. The teams started the third 20-minute period with an equal score – 4:4, but it was already under the dictation of the Penguins, who first took the lead, and then took advantage of the fact that the Rangers removed the goalkeeper twice more. The backlog, which began with the failures of Shesterkin, the club from New York did not manage to eliminate.

The fourth match of the series will again be held in Pittsburgh on May 9 with the score 2-1 in favor of the hosts.