BUFFALO — In their next-to-last set of back-to-back games of the season, the Rangers deployed their goaltenders like they usually do.
Igor Shesterkin faced the Devils in the Rangers’ 2-1 loss Thursday night and Jaroslav Halak took on the Sabres on Friday at KeyBank Center.
It will be interesting to see how the Rangers director of goaltending, Benoit Allaire, and head coach Gerard Gallant divide up the remaining six starts.
Shesterkin could get the starting nod against the Capitals in Washington on Sunday and again on Wednesday at the Garden when the Lightning come to town. Those are some of the better teams left on the Rangers schedule.
Last season, former backup Alexandar Georgiev played the final two games of the regular season against the Canadiens and Capitals.
If the Rangers want to follow that same schedule, Halak likely will play the last two games against the Sabres and Maple Leafs.
“He’s a good veteran guy,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said of Halak. “He’s pretty close to 300 wins in his career. He’s played great hockey for us. He’s been outstanding for us and that’s what you need. You need strong goaltending and we’ve got that with our guys.”
Entering the game against Buffalo, Halak was 9-2-2 in his last 14 games.
Friday night was his 22nd start of the season, over which he has accumulated a 10-8-3 record with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
With his assist on the Rangers’ lone goal from Chris Kreider in the loss to the Devils on Thursday, Mika Zibanejad established a new career-high 82 points (38 goals, 44 assists).
He has 14 points in his last nine games and 33 points in his last 26 games.
Ryan Lindgren was sidelined Friday night for the 16th time in the Rangers’ last 17 games with a shoulder injury.
Gallant said he “knows” the 25-year-old defenseman will play before the end of the regular season.
The Rangers assigned forward Adam Edstrom to AHL Hartford on Friday. In September, Edstrom was loaned to the Swedish Hockey League’s Rogle BK, for whom he appeared in 42 games during the 2022-23 season.
Edstrom, who the Rangers selected 161st overall in the 2019 draft, set new career highs in goals (nine), assists (10) and points (19).