Igor Shesterkin - players.bio

Playoff goalie confidence rankings: Lightning, Maple Leafs at opposite ends

There is no more impactful position in the postseason — or at any point of the NHL season — than goalie.

Josi, Shesterkin, more: Top NHL defensemen, goalies so far in 2022

Earlier, we kicked off April by chronicling the top NHL scorers in 2022 (since Jan. 1). To wrap up our look at the hottest players from the past few months, let’s give defensemen and goalies the same treatment.

NHL Rink Wrap: First shutout for Thompson, Panarin leads Rangers, 100 for McDavid

All season the New York Rangers have been relying on their goaltending — mainly Igor Shesterkin — to win them games. When Shesterkin has not played, it has been a bit of a struggle. That was the case on Wednesday night against the Detroit Red Wings when they needed to rely on their offense to get two points in the standings. It was a three-point night from Artemi Panarin that led the way. He scored his 18th goal of the season in the second period, and then assisted on Chris Kreider‘s 46th goal of the season to tie the game late in the third period before also assisting on Andrew Copp‘s game-winning goal in overtime to give them a little more cushion over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second place spot in the Metropolitan Division.

NHL Rink Wrap: Another hat trick for Robertson; Shesterkin MVP case; Eichel buzzer beater

There is no player in the NHL on a bigger roll right now than Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson. He recorded a hat trick for the second consecutive game in Dallas’ 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. That gives the second-year standout 29 goals on the season while he also has eight goals over his past five games, including the two hat tricks over the past two games. The Stars are back on a roll and solidifying their spot as a Stanley Cup Playoff team and Robertson and his line have been the one constant for them all season.