The New York Rangers will start rookie Igor Shesterkin between the pipes for their must-win contest Tuesday night versus the Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced.
Henrik Lundqvist started and lost the first two games (3-2 and 4-1) of the series, with Shesterkin deemed unfit to play.
Shesterkin, 24, made his NHL debut in January and played a massive role in the Rangers' second-half surge up the Eastern Conference standings. Shesterkin went 10-2 in 12 starts with a .932 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average.
Puck drop for the critical contest is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.
