Igor Shesterkin
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) skates back to the goal before play restarts during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers 5/28/2022

May. 30, 2022 02:24 AM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Russians star in NHL playoffs as nation wages war in Ukraine

By Stephen Whyno May. 30, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

FILE - Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov (27) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov and the Russians are favored once again at the Olympics without NHL players. Voynov was part of the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” team that won gold in 2018 in Pyeongchang. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Defending Olympic gold medal-winning Russians unveil roster

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 23, 2022 04:38 PM EST

FILE - Russia forward Vladimir Tarasenko wraps the puck around the goal against Slovakia forward Branko Radivojevic in the first period of a men's ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. A handful of NHL players are voicing frustration over the decision not to allow them to go to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Tarasenko said on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, he would have gone if given the choice. Keeping the season going while allowing individual players to choose whether to go was not something that was ever considered.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
NHL players vent frustration over being barred from Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 29, 2021 05:54 AM EST

FILE - Kunlun Red Star Beijing players look at a scoreboard during the Kontinental Hockey League ice hockey match between Kunlun Red Star Beijing and Amur Khabarovsk in Mytishchi, just outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. China will take part in the men’s hockey tournament at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after initial concerns that the team would be embarrassed on home ice against NHL-level competition. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Without the NHL, Russia emerges as favorite for Olympic gold

By James Ellingworth Dec. 23, 2021 01:03 AM EST

FILE - In this Friday, April 24, 2015, file photo, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates after Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in New York. The Rangers won 2-1. The New York Rangers have bought out the contract of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers parted with one of the greatest netminders in franchise history on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, when they paid off the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Rangers buy out star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's contract

By Tom Canavan Sep. 30, 2020 10:47 AM EDT