The season kicked off on Saturday with the Wolfpack taking on the defending Calder Cup Champions and defeating the Charlotte Checkers 5-3. Shesterkin was in net, and he looked good for the Wolfpack, especially in the second period as he handled a heavier workload and had to stop more chances as the Checkers were trying to do whatever they could to mount a comeback.

While the Checkers did eventually take control in the third period, climbing back to close the gap, Shesterkin was at the top of his game stopping and keeping the Checkers attempt at a comeback at bay. It was real promising to see him track the puck well. There was one goal I think he would like to have back (the opening goal, which gave the Checkers their only lead), but overall there was a lot to like from Shesterkin’s first start.

Chytil is the team’s second line center. That’s the only thing that should matter for Ranger fans awaiting his return to the big club. If and when it happens (and with the way Ryan Strome has played his first two games, maybe sooner than we think), this is exactly what we wanted to see.

There was some fear (mainly from me), that Chytil was going to be on the wing in Hartford, and that the center experiment was over for him. Glad I was very wrong with that take. During the game against Charlotte he seemed to slowly get himself into the game, and it wasn’t until the third period that he finally looked comfortable and showed signs of what we should expect from him at center.