Rangers G Igor Shesterkin has been named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, the award given to the best goaltender of the league each year, according to Kevin Weekes of the NHL Network.
Shesterkin, who at one point was in legitimate conversation for the Hart Trophy, is the heavy favorite to win the Vezina, which would be the first of his career. It also would be the time a Ranger won the award since Henrik Lundqvist in the 2011-12 season, where the Rangers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Shesterkin led the NHL with a 2.07 GAA and a .935 save percentage. However, after he allowed four goals in the first period of the Rangers’ 6-4 loss to the Penguins on Saturday, they now trail their first-round series two games to one.
Shesterkin and the Blueshirts will look to get redemption and tie the series at two on Monday at 7 p.m.
The other two finalists are Nashville Predators Juuse Saros and Calgary Flames’ Jacob Markstrom.
