Shesterkin doubles down on comments about Vasilevskiy
The New York Rangers took a 2-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning last night and have lit up Vasilevskiy for 9 goals through 2 games. The Rangers have made him and the rest of Tampa look human as they don't seem to have an answer for the Rangers' style of play. While Tampa has had their chances, the Rangers are getting timely saves from likely Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin.
Could this be the changing of the guard or passing of the torch, from one Russian goaltender to the other? It depends how the rest of the series plays out from a media and fan standpoint, but according to Shesterkin, that is not the case.
Before the series he said that Vasilevskiy was the best goalie in the world, and after last night's game, Shesterkin doubled down on his comments saying, "I still stand by my opinion that everything was as I said before, Andrei is still the best goalie in the world."
Considering Shesterkin's numbers have been better than Vasilevskiy's through most of the playoffs and were obviously better during the season, that is some high praise for Vasilevskiy and shows the level of respect that Shesterkin has for his fellow countryman.
Game 3 goes Sunday night in Tampa, so let's see if Vasilevskiy and the Lightning can find another one of those world class performances they have put forth so many times the last couple years to get back in the series.
