Gallant: Rangers 'should be embarrassed' for hanging Shesterkin out to dry

Igor Shesterkin has had his teammates' backs all year, but during a rare off night for the Vezina Trophy frontrunner, his teammates weren't there to return to favor.

The New York Rangers star netminder allowed four goals on 17 shots during a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday before the club pulled him in favor of Alexandar Georgiev.

"They should be embarrassed a little bit, the way (Shesterkin) plays for them all year," Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant told reporters postgame. "Then they come out tonight and play like that, after a game in Minnesota that we weren't too good in."

Gallant added that his team looked "soft." He also said that Shesterkin had "no chance" on most of the goals.

Shesterkin has found himself in Hart Trophy conversations this season. He entered Thursday leading the league in goals against average (1.93), save percentage (.942), goals saved above average (40.6), and goals saved above expected (34.97).

The 26-year-old's the major reason New York is tied for second in the Metropolitan Division this campaign. The Rangers rank 26th in expected goals percentage at five-on-five - the lowest among any team currently in a postseason spot, according to Natural Stat Trick.