Last night was the Igor Shesterkin show for the Rangers, as the rookie netminder showed no rust or signs of slowing down in this three goalie rotation, stopping 42 of 43 shots as the Rangers beat the Kings 4-1. This game went about as expected, as the Kings are a good process team but lack finishing skill and goaltending to truly be competitive. Yes – skill matters, in addition to process.
The Kings controlled much of the game, getting dominant margins in shot attempts, scoring chances, and expected-goals. But that lack of finishing skill, coupled with a Czar in net, kept the Kings at bay.