G76 New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers: Bad blood

We have seen plenty of bad blood between the Devils and Rangers this season. Expect that to continue in their final meeting of the year.

Follow along on Twitter @ToddCordell | @InfernalAccess

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey with our writers and subscribers.

---

A few notes to get you set for New Jersey vs. New York:

Shesterkin is back in business

Remember when Igor Shesterkin really struggled earlier in the season? Those days are long gone. He has looked like the Shesterkin of old for quite some time, posting some of the league’s best numbers over the past six weeks.

He owns a .931 save percentage since February 20th, which slots him 2nd in the NHL among 38 netminders who’ve logged at least 500 minutes in that span.

Shesterkin also grades out extremely well against high-danger shots, ranking 8th with an .835 HDSV%.

Only 10 of the 38 goaltenders have faced HD chances more frequently in that span. It’s not as if Shesterkin is showing the occasional flash of brilliance and otherwise coasting. He is getting the job done while facing a difficult workload.

The Devils have only mustered up more than a goal once in three meetings vs. the Rangers this season. In a back-to-back situation against an in-form Shesterkin, it’s not going to be easy to buck that trend.

A good litmus test