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Who to start · 2025-26

Casey DeSmith vs Igor Shesterkin

Casey DeSmithCasey DeSmithStars · GoalievsIgor ShesterkinIgor ShesterkinRangers · Goalie

In 2025-26, Casey DeSmith posted a .907 save percentage to Igor Shesterkin's .912.

Against our expected-goals model, DeSmith saved +5.5 goals and Shesterkin +18.8.

This week DeSmith has 1 game left (about 0.9 expected starts) with 1 soft matchup; Shesterkin has 1 left (about 0.8 expected starts) with 1 tough matchup. We project DeSmith for 2.4 ESPN points to Shesterkin's 1.5.

Igor Shesterkin has the better number in 6 of the 11 stats both are ranked on.

DeSmith's biggest edges: Goals against 71, Rebounds prevented /100 +0.58, Goals-against average 2.43.

Shesterkin's biggest edges: Saves 1,299, Games started 51, Wins 25.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 W, .936 SV%.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Casey DeSmith

2.16

fantasy points per game

Igor Shesterkin

2.29

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Igor Shesterkin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromDeSmithShesterkin
Wins (+4)2.001.96
Goals against (-2)-4.73-4.94
Saves (+0.2)4.595.09
Shutouts (+3)0.100.06
OT losses (+1)0.200.12

Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: DeSmith vs Shesterkin

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

DeSmithShesterkin
10Team record in 20 meetings10

Igor Shesterkin shooting on Casey DeSmith

Goals
0
Shots on goal
1
Expected goals
0.00
DeSmith SV%
1.000

1 unblocked attempts. Close to expected.

Games against each other

Games between Casey DeSmith and Igor Shesterkin
DateScoreDeSmithShesterkin
2026-04-11DAL 2–0 NYR0/0 SV17/18 SV
2025-12-02DAL 2–3 NYR38/41 SV24/26 SV
2024-12-20DAL 1–3 NYR0/0 SV41/42 SV
2024-01-08VAN 6–3 NYR0/0 SV20/25 SV
2023-10-28VAN 3–4 NYR20/24 SV30/33 SV
2023-03-18PIT 0–6 NYR5/7 SV33/33 SV
2023-03-16PIT 2–4 NYR0/0 SV30/32 SV
2023-03-12PIT 3–2 NYR0/0 SV0/0 SV
2022-12-20PIT 3–2 NYR0/0 SV21/24 SV
2022-05-03 · POPIT 4–3 NYR48/51 SV79/83 SV
2022-04-07PIT 0–3 NYR0/0 SV30/30 SV
2022-03-29PIT 2–3 NYR0/0 SV22/24 SV

Latest 12 of 20 meetings.

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

DeSmithShesterkin

Goaltending

This week's schedule

Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.

Casey DeSmith

2games (1 left)

2.4proj. ESPN pts

About 0.9 expected starts

  • Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
    Likely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B88% to start2.4 pts
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to GSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)

Igor Shesterkin

4games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

About 0.8 expected starts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to GLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows the most FP to GLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA81% to start1.5 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to GSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Casey DeSmith or Igor Shesterkin?
In 2025-26, Casey DeSmith posted a .907 save percentage to Igor Shesterkin's .912. Against our expected-goals model, DeSmith saved +5.5 goals and Shesterkin +18.8. Confirm the starter on game day; workload and back-to-backs decide most goalie starts.
Who is better, Casey DeSmith or Igor Shesterkin?
On 2025-26 numbers, Igor Shesterkin leads in 6 of 11 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have DeSmith and Shesterkin done against each other?
In 20 games against each other in our data, DeSmith's team went 10–10.

2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →