RALEIGH, N.C. — The Rangers will go as far as Igor Shesterkin will take them.
Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over the Hurricanes was just the latest reminder of that fact as the star Russian netminder posted his second straight shutout with 28 saves to give the first-place Rangers a six-point cushion on Carolina in the Metropolitan Division standings.
This was a hot Carolina team coming in. They had outscored their last three opponents 15-5.
Then the Hurricanes had to face Shesterkin and the Rangers and their offense went cold.
The loss snapped a three-game win streak for Carolina, while the Rangers extended their run to three wins in a row.
Shesterkin gutted out a goaltending duel with Pytor Kochetkov, who only gave up one goal off an Adam Fox shot that ricocheted off ex-Ranger-turned-Hurricanes-defenseman Brady Skjei in the final seconds of the first period.
Otherwise, Kochetkov presented just as much of a challenge for the Rangers, who were denied at every turn for the insurance tally.
Especially in the third period, which turned into a track meet for the first minutes of the final frame.
The way Shesterkin has elevated his game the last month and a half should put faith in the Rangers locker room that he can provide the difference in any matchup.
Now, the key will be to give No. 31 a little more score support.
Still, the Rangers earned every bit of their second 1-0 victory of the season.
They not only matched the intensity the Hurricanes always seem to play with, but they played smart in a tight game where Carolina pulled their goalie for the extra skater in the final two minutes of regulation.