Shesterkin shines again as Rangers hand Mammoth first loss of season

Igor Shesterkin continued his early-season surge at Madison Square Garden, backstopping the New York Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Sunday night. The Rangers netminder turned aside 28 shots and added an assist as New York picked up its third straight win after dropping its season opener.

Perreault nets winner as Rangers pull away

With the game tied entering the third period, Gabe Perreault broke things open just over three minutes into the frame. After Karel Vejmelka denied Alexis Lafreniere on a break, the Utah goaltender left a rebound in the slot and Perreault jumped on the loose puck inside the left circle, firing it into a mostly empty cage to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

New York doubled its advantage when J.T. Miller redirected a point shot from Vladislav Gavrikov past Vejmelka for a 3-1 cushion. Gavrikov had put the Rangers on the board late in the first period with a drive from the blue line, capping off a two-point night for the defenceman.

Eeli Tolvanen sealed the result in the final minutes, scoring into an empty net for the third consecutive game. Shesterkin was credited with his fourth career assist on the play, springing Will Cuylle with a long pass before Tolvanen finished the sequence.

Mammoth rally falls short, Trocheck saluted in return

Utah pushed to extend its perfect start and came close to forcing extra time. Nick Schmaltz had drawn the Mammoth even in the second period, shovelling in a rebound after Shesterkin’s initial save on a Clayton Keller attempt. Andrew Peeke narrowed the deficit to one with just over five minutes left in regulation, but Utah could not find another goal before Tolvanen’s empty-net strike.

Vejmelka finished with 18 saves for the Mammoth, including a pair of breakaway stops on Lafreniere that kept Utah within reach. Still, the Rangers’ depth scoring and Shesterkin’s steady play in net proved decisive in the final frame.

The night also featured an emotional moment for Vincent Trocheck in his first game back at Madison Square Garden since being traded to Utah in July. The forward, who totalled 89 goals and 253 points in 313 games over four seasons with New York, was recognized with a video tribute and a warm ovation during a first-period stoppage.

The Rangers were forced to juggle their forward group after Joe Veleno suffered a lower-body injury when his leg became tangled with Keller along the boards near the New York bench midway through the opening period. Veleno did not return, leaving the Rangers to play most of the night with 11 forwards. New York will continue its homestand Tuesday when it hosts the New York Islanders.