With the season at a critical juncture, the Rangers need the best version of Igor Shesterkin to secure success.

As the 2024-2025 NHL season heads into its final stretch, the New York Rangers are standing at a pivotal crossroads. With their playoff hopes on the line, the team is looking for a spark from their most important player: goaltender Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers have invested heavily in their future with Shesterkin as the cornerstone of their franchise, but as the season enters its most critical phase, the Rangers need the very best version of their star goalie to make a push for the postseason.

Shesterkin has been one of the top goaltenders in the NHL over the past few years, establishing himself as a Vezina Trophy winner in 2021 and consistently being a reliable force between the pipes for the Rangers. However, this season has been one of ups and downs for the Russian netminder, with moments of brilliance tempered by stretches of inconsistency. For the Rangers to succeed and advance deep into the playoffs, Shesterkin must return to the level of play that has made him one of the league’s most coveted goaltenders.

Shesterkin’s Importance to the Rangers’ Success

When the Rangers traded for Shesterkin in 2017, they knew they were acquiring a potential franchise goalie with a rare combination of agility, mental toughness, and elite-level shot-stopping ability. Shesterkin’s ascent through the Rangers’ ranks was meteoric, quickly displacing veteran Henrik Lundqvist as the team’s starter. His performance in the 2020-2021 season, culminating in his Vezina Trophy win, solidified his place as the backbone of the team.

Shesterkin’s impact on the Rangers is immeasurable. As a goalie, he provides the stability and confidence needed for a team to perform at its best. When a team has a goalie who can steal games and make crucial saves in high-pressure moments, it allows the rest of the team to play with freedom and confidence. Shesterkin has been that player for the Rangers, earning them countless points with his incredible reflexes and consistency in the crease.

In the 2024-2025 season, however, the Rangers have not been able to rely on Shesterkin as they have in the past. There have been glimpses of his former self, with some incredible performances that show the elite-level talent that he possesses. But inconsistency has crept into his game, especially at the worst possible times. For the Rangers to achieve their goals—whether it’s securing a playoff spot or advancing to the later rounds—they need Shesterkin to return to his Vezina-caliber form.

Inconsistency and its Impact on the Rangers

Throughout the 2024-2025 season, Shesterkin’s numbers have been a mixed bag. His save percentage and goals-against average, while still respectable, are not up to the standard he set in previous years. Inconsistency in net has been one of the reasons why the Rangers have struggled to find a rhythm as a team. While the Rangers have plenty of talent on offense, including superstars like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Adam Fox, they’ve been unable to fully capitalize on their offensive firepower when their goaltender is not at the top of his game.

The Rangers’ defensive play has been a contributing factor to Shesterkin’s struggles, with breakdowns in coverage leading to high-danger scoring chances against him. However, Shesterkin is expected to make some of the saves that can bail out his defense, especially in those moments when the team is under pressure. One of the key traits of a top-tier goaltender is the ability to make big saves when the team needs them most, and that’s where Shesterkin’s performance has been lacking this season.

When Shesterkin is playing at his best, he’s a difference-maker. He has the ability to bail out his team in high-pressure moments, especially when facing top-tier shooters on the power play or in close-quarter situations. But when he’s off, as he has been at times this season, it affects the team’s overall confidence and ability to execute. The Rangers have the offensive and defensive pieces to compete with the best teams in the league, but without a consistent and dominant Shesterkin in net, they will continue to fall short in the standings.

What the Rangers Need from Shesterkin

The New York Rangers need the best version of Igor Shesterkin, and that version is one where he’s playing at the level he was in 2020-2021. To get there, Shesterkin needs to elevate his game in several key areas.

1. Mental Toughness and Consistency: Shesterkin has always been known for his mental toughness, and this is a quality that will be essential as the Rangers approach the final stretch of the season. When he’s in a rhythm, he exudes confidence, and his ability to shake off goals and stay focused has been a hallmark of his game. This season, however, Shesterkin has occasionally shown signs of frustration after giving up goals, leading to uncharacteristic mistakes. He needs to regain his mental focus and embrace the high-stakes nature of the games ahead.

As the Rangers battle for playoff positioning, every game becomes increasingly important. The team will look to Shesterkin to be a calming influence and a steadying force. His ability to focus on the present moment, stay calm under pressure, and not let mistakes snowball into larger issues will be critical to the team’s success.

2. Rebounding from Setbacks: Throughout the season, Shesterkin has faced games where he has given up soft goals or failed to make a key save at a critical moment. While all goalies experience setbacks, it’s how they respond that separates the great ones from the rest. Shesterkin’s ability to bounce back from a bad game and return to his dominant self will be key in the final stretch of the season. The Rangers will need their goaltender to have a short memory and not dwell on past mistakes, but instead focus on executing at the highest level when the team needs him most.

3. High-Danger Save Percentage: One of the areas where Shesterkin can have the most impact is in high-danger situations. Whether it’s a breakaway or a point-blank shot from the slot, Shesterkin has the ability to make game-changing saves that keep his team in the game. While his overall numbers might be solid, his ability to stop the high-quality chances is what separates the best goalies from the average ones. The Rangers need Shesterkin to be at his best when facing the most dangerous shots on goal, and that requires exceptional positioning, quick reflexes, and the ability to anticipate the play before it develops.

4. Playing with Confidence: Shesterkin is a goalie who thrives when he’s confident in his game. When he’s feeling good, he plays with incredible flair, diving across the crease, making highlight-reel saves, and inspiring his teammates. On the flip side, when he’s unsure of himself, his play becomes more tentative, and that lack of confidence can bleed through the entire team. The Rangers need Shesterkin to play with the swagger and confidence that has made him one of the league’s top goalies. That means trusting his positioning, taking control of the crease, and not overthinking plays. If Shesterkin can find that confidence again, he will elevate the team as a whole.

5. Stepping Up in Big Moments: Finally, Shesterkin needs to perform in the big moments. The pressure of playing in tight games with playoff implications is something every goaltender faces, but it’s during these moments that the great ones rise to the occasion. Shesterkin has proven in the past that he can handle the pressure of big games, but the Rangers need him to do so consistently during the home stretch. Whether it’s shutting the door in the final minutes of a tight game or making a game-winning save in overtime, Shesterkin needs to be the difference-maker in key moments if the Rangers are to succeed.

The Rangers’ Playoff Hopes Rest on Shesterkin

As the Rangers approach the final stretch of the 2024-2025 season, their playoff hopes hinge on the performance of Igor Shesterkin. With the team in a tight battle for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, the difference between a postseason berth and a missed opportunity could come down to a few key games—and Shesterkin will have a massive role to play in those games.

The Rangers have the offensive talent and defensive depth to compete with the best teams in the NHL, but they need Shesterkin to return to the form that made him one of the league’s most dominant goaltenders. If he can find his rhythm and start performing at the level the Rangers know he’s capable of, there’s no reason why they can’t make a deep playoff run.

The next few weeks will be critical for Shesterkin and the Rangers. The team’s success—and their hopes for a deep playoff push—depend on their goaltender finding his best form. With the pressure mounting, it’s time for Igor Shesterkin to rise to the occasion and become the franchise goalie the Rangers have relied on for years. If he does, the Rangers will have a real chance at success in the postseason, with Shesterkin playing a central role in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.