NEW YORK — On Thursday night, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin was taken out of the game in the second period during a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, after allowing five goals from just 11 shots on goal.

Shesterkin, 28, came into this game holding a record of 6-2-1 and boasting a goals-against average of 2.22. His challenging night began when Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin scored just 26 seconds into the game.

The second period proved particularly difficult for Shesterkin as he conceded four more goals, with three of those coming in a rapid 2:12 sequence. Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens, Tage Thompson, Jordan Greenway, and Sam Lafferty all found the back of the net in that period, building a commanding 5-0 lead. With 6:09 remaining in the period, Shesterkin was pulled from the game, giving way to backup goalie Jonathan Quick after Lafferty scored.

This season marks the final year of Shesterkin’s four-year contract valued at $22.67 million, and there has been speculation regarding his aspirations to become the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. He had a standout season in 2021-22, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, finishing with a record of 36-13-4 and a goals-against average of 2.07. In the following seasons, he maintained impressive performance levels, winning 37 games in 2022-23 and 36 games last season, helping position the Rangers as the team with the best record in the NHL.