The name of the Russian NHL star was chanted by 18,000 Americans. Igor is just a wall!

Russian Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin became the first star of the third match of the conference semi-finals with Carolina. On his account – 43 reflected shots, and the club from New York – the first victory in the series. Even the most respected NHL hockey player in history gave him a compliment!

Although the outcome of the confrontation between the Rangers and the Carolinas cannot be called easily predictable, the hosts won the first two matches in Raleigh. With a backlog of two victories, the Hurricanes flew to New York to qualify for the next stage, but did not take into account the Shesterkin factor. The MVP of the season with the Rangers, being on a roll, can single-handedly decide the outcome of any game. Such a moment happened to the Russian on the night from Sunday to Monday.

But first, the Rangers were able to open the scoring in the match in the majority: Panarin from the right flank, with a deceitful movement, moved the puck to the left of Zibanejad, who stuck it into the goal in a touch. After that, Shesterkin tried on the hero’s costume. He neutralized Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was rolling out one on one, preventing him from being thrown. The Russian literally rushed to the puck with his whole body, stealing a 100% scoring chance from the Finn. It was unexpected even for the striker.

In the second period, which accounted for the greatest number of shots on goal by the Rangers – 18, Shesterkin made a small misfire: with the score 2:0 in favor of his team, he could not neutralize Nino Niederreiter’s shot. The puck slipped between the goalkeeper’s hand and body. At the same moment, the Russian realized the cost of the mistake.

“I conceded a goal and upset the team,” Shesterkin said later. I had to correct my mistake.

Photo: © REUTERS / Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Easier said than done. But this goal was the only one for the Carolinas in the meeting. In the second twenty-minute period, the Russian has several more miraculous rescues. One – after Svechnikov’s throw at the left post, the second – six seconds later, already on the right. He also did not leave his opponent a chance, confidently defending in the minority in the third period and reflecting one of the throws with his mask. For 18 game minutes in a row, Shesterkin had 38 saves, and in total for the match – 43! It is not surprising that it was the Russian who became the first star of the meeting. The 18,000 fans at Madison Square Garden who chanted his name relentlessly agreed. Echoed them and the head coach of the “Rangers” Gerard Galland.

“Igor was incredible and that was the key to our success,” he said. “He is a key player in our team.

Shesterkin even received praise from Canadian veteran Wayne Gretzky, a hockey player who, according to many, remains the best player in the history of the league.

“A great victory and a great goalkeeper game,” he wrote on his page on the social network under a joint photo with Shesterkin. – I was very happy to greet you. Unreal game.

(if possible, photo from here https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd4Vgz7sZmY/)

It would seem that it’s time to get proud, or at least feel the enormous stress on yourself from the high expectations set by others. But Shesterkin, it turns out, has no such problem.

“I don’t feel pressure,” he said. “Only the importance of the moment. After all, our team and its fans deserve the Stanley Cup.

To get one step closer to him, the Rangers need to beat the Carolinas. The fourth match of the series will again take New York on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

NHL. Playoffs

New York Rangers (New York) – Carolina Hurricanes (Role) – 3:1 (1:0, 1:1, 1:0)

Goals: Zibanejad, 11:54 (bol.). Crider, 25:55. Mott, 58:37. — Niederreiter, 28:18.

Score in the series – 1:2