A curious moment in the match with New Jersey added ill-wishers to the Russian goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper New York Rangers Igor Shesterkin This season is unsettled. After receiving the prize for the best goalkeeper of the league, the Russian hockey player cannot find himself in any way.
In the last meeting of the NHL regular season against “New Jersey Devils” The goalkeeper also faced non-game problems. A curious set of circumstances provoked a backlash from patriotic American hockey fans.
“What the hell?”
Last season, the Russian Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin deservedly received the Vezina Trophy award for the best goalkeeper in the NHL. The miracles of the Russian in goal helped the New York team reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2015. Igor was even nominated for the Hart Trophy.
This year, experts and fans have much more complaints about Shesterkin. The goalkeeper performs unevenly, often giving out weak matches. The away game against New Jersey also began with a floundering bay. Even before the starting throw-in, the player managed to get into a curious situation, which some American fans took extremely painfully.
A video appeared on the social networks of a “devils” fan, where the hockey players of both teams are facing the US flag during the anthem. The only one who looked the other way at that moment was the Russian goalkeeper of the Rangers.
Did Shesterkin turn his back on the flag? What the hell? I have never seen a goaltender looking away from other players on the ice during the national anthem,” @NewEraNJDevils1 wrote.
The video has gained more than 60 thousand views in a short time. A lot of people have ‘liked’ it. After such a video, the Russian will obviously have more ill-wishers in the United States, although Igor has absolutely nothing to do with it.
The thing is that the whole team initially looked towards Shesterkin, being behind. But just before the anthem was played, the field hockey players turned around. All this action took place behind Igor’s back, and he did not see it. Teammates Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider tried to shout to the Russian, but he did not hear them. As a result, it was like ignoring the American flag.
Not Shesterkin’s Day
After the start of the game, the Russian continued to face problems, but Igor was not to blame for them either. On account of the goalkeeper there were 39 reflected shots out of 43. Moreover, Igor did not spare himself at all, substituting all parts of his body for the opponents’ throws.
In the middle of the third period, a powerful blow from the Canadian defender of the “devils” Damon Severson hit Shesterkin right in the forehead. The hit was accentuated, not casual. After that, the Russian goalkeeper came to his senses for a long time, grimacing from discomfort and ringing in his ears.
But the heroic rescue of Igor did not help the Rangers. The Blueshirts lost in overtime with a score of 3:4, although they were leading by two goals. The New Jersey comeback began just after the puck hit the goalkeeper’s helmet. Although the direct fault of the goalkeeper in them is not, but this does not make the defeat less unpleasant for him.
The defeat put an end to the New York team’s winning streak.