Igor Shesterkin was the best goaltender in the NHL this season and now he has the hardware to prove it, as the Rangers goalie took home the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy on Tuesday night.
Shesterkin, the favorite to take home the trophy, beat out fellow finalists Jacob Markstrom of Calgary and Juuse Saros of Nashiville, with the official announcement coming at the NHL Awards in Tampa.
Shesterkin earned 154 voting points with 29 of the 32 first place votes. Markstrom was the runner up with 53 voting points.
Shesterkin was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy, presented to the league MVP, along with Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Toronto's Auston Matthews, but it was Matthews taking home the trophy. Shesterkin finished third in the voting, though he did get 24 first-place votes
Shesterkin led all qualifying NHL goalies in save percentage (.935) and goals against average (2.07), posting a 36-13-4 record to help lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The 26-year-old is the first Ranger to win the Vezina Trophy since Henrik Lundqvist in 2011-12.