[ad_1]
Ten months and five days later, it’s Alexandar Georgiev’s turn.
As expected, the 24-year-old Rangers goaltender will receive the call for Saturday’s game at the Garden against the Islanders. It will mark Georgiev’s first game since March 11, a 3-2 overtime loss to Colorado, in his team’s last game before the break of the season. He did not play in the qualifying series against the Hurricanes.
“Definitely it was the longest time,” said Georgiev, who backed Igor Shesterkin in Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Islanders. “It’s been a very long period of hard work in the gym, staying mentally sharp since last season was suspended in March. From that point on, the world was a little different for us.
“Not a lot of games, but at the same time you’re trying to make it as normal as possible. I tried to follow the same kind of routine out of season, but just shifted it a few months. I’m super excited for hockey, I feel great on the ice and the muscle memory is there so I’m not worried about that.
Georgiev started six of Rangers’ last nine games and nine of their last 15 regular season games last year. He went 7-6-1 in 14 starts and 15 appearances during the calendar year with a 2.81 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.
Perhaps more on point, Georgiev started all four games against the Islanders, going 3-1 with a GAA of 2.81 and save percentage of .920. while also shining in wins of 42 and 38 stops at the Colosseum. The point is, if Thursday’s game hadn’t been the season opener, Georgiev would certainly have gotten the assignment.
Kevin Rooney, who needed help leaving the ice after being blindly run over without the puck by Ross Johnston at 6:37 of the third period Thursday, did not skate on Friday. Although considered “day to day”, the center is not expected to play on Saturday.
The collision was deemed accidental by officials, who did not penalize Johnston. Then again, the refs did not penalize Johnston for a previous stroke, in which he went high and behind Filip Chytil in the middle of the second.
“As for the two hits, I thought the one on Chytil was a bit excessive and certainly should have been a penalty and the league could have considered,” said Rangers coach David Quinn. “And I want to give Johnston the benefit of the doubt with Rooney, I’m not 100% sure he knew they were going to collide.” I don’t think he goes headhunting like that and the game was below the collision so maybe he was watching the puck.
Chris Kreider, who entered the season with a career total of 12:25 on penalties, played 2:45 on unity on Thursday while Pavel Buchnevich, with a career tally of 6:05, got 3: 43 at a disadvantage. The Blueshirts had power play goals eight times shorter, with forward pair Rooney-Brett Howden on both.
“The record passed, I don’t really think about it,” Georgiev said. “It’s definitely a great team that we face. I have a lot of respect for the islanders. I just have to be precise and ready and play my game. ”
[ad_2]
Source link