The 1994 similarities just keep on coming for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin put himself in the center of another one on Thursday.
In making 45 saves in a Game 3 victory against the Hurricanes, Shesterkin matched Mike Richter for the longest playoff winning streak in club history at seven.
Richter’s also came in the first seven games of the postseason, as the Rangers swept the Islanders and went up 3-0 on the Capitals in the second round, ultimately winning the series in five games.
This was also the second straight match in which Shesterkin saved 45 or more shots, as he stopped 54 in the double-overtime Game 2 win.
The Russian also has the highest save percentage in club playoff history at .929, ahead of Henrik Lundqvist (.921).
The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner has presented a brick wall for the Hurricanes in this series, as Carolina has generally gotten more chances at five-on-five, but struggled to get any pucks by Shesterkin.
They appeared to finally have some momentum late in Game 3 when Andrei Svechnikov tied the game at six-on-five, but Artemi Panarin made it a 3-2 Rangers victory less than two minutes into overtime.
Another win on Shesterkin’s shoulders.
Another step toward retracing history.
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