Scoring won’t be easy with Vasilevskiy, Shesterkin in the nets

Andrei Vasilevskiy has won a Vezina Trophy and two Stanley Cups with the Lightning. Igor Shesterkin is a finalist for the Vezina this year as he leads the Rangers in their pursuit of their first championship since 1994 and second in 82 years.

The Russian goalies will be front and center as the two-time defending champion Lightning and never-say-die Rangers meet in the Eastern Conference finals, beginning tonight at the Garden.

“I think it’s unanimous they’re the two best goalies in the league,” said Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow, who played for the Lightning during their championship runs the last two years.

Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos knows the attention going into the series will be on the men in goal.

“We know what we have in our guy,” Stamkos said. “(Shesterkin) had a tremendous year in New York. Great regular season, and he’s on a really good run right now. But I think for us, no matter what goaltender we’ve played over the past couple years, it’s not the main focus, we have to go out there and play our best.”

Asked who he thought was better between the two goalies, Goodrow simply said: “I’ll take Shesty all day.”

Vasilevskiy has a league-best 188 wins over the last five seasons, including a 39-18-5 mark this season with a 2.49 goals-against average and .916 save percentage. He’s 8-3 in these playoffs, allowing just four goals on 185 shots over the last five games, and his 57 career playoff victories tie him with Tuukka Rask for 17th on the all-time list.

“He’s the best goalie in the world right now,” Shesterkin said. “I think it will be a good battle.”

The 26-year-old Shesterkin was 36-13-4 with a 2.07 GAA and .935 save-percentage — both tops in the league — in his third season in the NHL. After struggling in Games 3 and 4 against Pittsburgh in the first round, he is 7-3 with a 2.09 GAA in the last 10 games.

“Great goalie, obviously a great season, a great regular season for him,” Vasilevskiy said. “Great challenge for us and for our team, but it’s not about one guy on the other side. It’s about the whole team, they’re pretty consistent, pretty complete team - offensively, defensively, good goalie. So great challenge for us.”

When asked how it feels to face a young Russian goalie, Vasilevskiy — who is finishing his eighth season in the NHL — noted their close age difference.

“I’m a young guy still,” said Vasilevskiy, who will turn 28 in July. “He’s like, what, just two years younger than me, so there’s not much difference . ... Obviously I just have to step up and show him my best game.”