Overtime goal and 42 rescues: how Panarin and Shesterkin dragged the Rangers to the quarterfinals of the Stanley Cup

The first round of the playoffs of the National Hockey League this season turned out to be incredibly intense: the winners of five out of eight series at once were determined in the decisive, seventh match.

And perhaps the most dramatic was the confrontation between the Rangers and Pittsburgh.

The New Yorkers were considered the favorite in it, however, out of the starting four matches, they lost three and were within a hair's breadth of relegation.

Then the team of Gerard Gallan won twice, equalized the score and returned the series to the Madison Square Garden home arena.

Moreover, in both matches, the Rangers were inferior in the score, but managed to recoup and win.

The meeting under the motto "all or nothing" began successfully for the owners of the ice - in the eighth minute, Chris Kreider scored from the pass of Micah Zibanejad - 1:0.

But at the end of the first period, Jacob Truba earned a four-minute suspension, and Pittsburgh successfully converted the majority through the efforts of Danton Heinen.

In the second period, the guests increased their pressure on the gates of Igor Shesterkin, who, by the way, participated in the seventh match of the playoff series for the first time in his career.

The Russian held the meeting more than confidently, saving the team in difficult moments and thus inspiring partners.

But, despite all the efforts of the Rangers goalkeeper, in the 31st minute of the meeting, Pittsburgh nevertheless took the lead: Jake Gunzel again converted the majority, while showing football skills.

The American kicked the puck into the air with his foot, and then sent it to the goal.

However, the guests were in the lead for only 65 seconds, and then, thanks to a successful rebound by K'Andre, Miller restored parity.

The rivals scored the third puck against the Rangers thanks to an error by Philip Khitil, who lost the puck in a foreign zone.

This was instantly taken advantage of by Evan Rodriguez, who rushed off alone to the goal and left no chance for the Russian goalkeeper.

The Rangers' attempts to bounce back in the third period did not bring results for a long time, and it seemed that another comeback would not happen, but almost six minutes before the final siren, Zibanejad flashed his skill in the immediate vicinity of the patch.

Thus, the match went to overtime, and, therefore, his fate was to be decided by just one throw.

And it was carried out by Artemy Panarin, who, to put it mildly, did not shine throughout the match - he earned two removals and lost the puck more than once.

But having received freedom in the majority, the attacker took full advantage of it, throwing it from the brushes.

Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry watched the puck fly out from under the defender into the goal.

Meanwhile, the Madison Square Garden stands were already going crazy with delight.

“In this arena, I probably have not heard the exclamations louder than after the puck from Artie in overtime.

This noise drowned out my thoughts.

We didn’t want this season to end,” Zibanejad admitted after the meeting.

The Rangers prevailed in the confrontation, bouncing back from 1-3 for the third time in history.

Previously, this happened in 2014 and 2015, and this is the 31st time in the history of the Stanley Cup.

In doing so, they became the first team to record three consecutive strong-willed victories while on the verge of losing the series.

Panarin was recognized as the first star of the match, and the Rangers press service on Twitter called his goal the goal of the season.

The Russian himself said after the match that he was experiencing great emotions and thanked the fans who gave the team a boost of energy to win.

In addition, he admitted that he made few shots this playoff and should be more active on offense.

“I don't score that many goals, so each one is very, very important to me.

To be honest, my teammates let me take shots from the very first game.

I somehow do not pressurize, I do not realize these opportunities.

Maybe I should listen to what everyone advises, go out and quit, ”the official NHL website quotes Panarin as saying.

Separately, it is worth noting Shesterkin, who had a terrific match.

The 26-year-old has saved 42 of 45 shots from opponents to become the youngest franchise goaltender to win the first Game 7 of his career in the Stanley Cup series.

In addition, the Russian set a club record for the number of saves in one series.

In seven games with Pittsburgh, he has accumulated 255 of them.

According to Zibanejad, the Rangers players have felt a reliable partner behind them all season, and this allows them to play uninhibited in attack.

“He really gives us the opportunity to win every game.

Even when the opponent has chances, we know who we have in the rear, and we trust him.

It's very calm with him.

This gives confidence to score the next puck, ”said the Swedish striker.

In the next stage of the tournament, the Rangers will face the Carolinas, and Pittsburgh will be eliminated from the Stanley Cup in the first round for the fourth year in a row.