Shesterkin might make return in net Saturday

There is a possibility Igor Shesterkin will start in goal for the Rangers on Saturday against the Capitals after being unavailable due to a groin strain the past seven games.

“Shesty is a possibility this weekend,” acting head coach Kris Knoblauch said Thursday.

Alexandar Georgiev, after posting his second shutout of the season (the first since his first start against the Islanders on Jan. 16) in Wednesday’s 9-0 thrashing of the Flyers, is getting the starting nod Friday for the first of two games in Washington.

Georgiev put forth one of his best performances of the year with 26 saves in Wednesday’s win. Although most of the action occurred in the Flyers’ zone, the 25-year-old netminder came up with some timely saves to preserve the shutout.

In the second period, with the Rangers up 4-0 and Philadelphia on a power play, Georgiev robbed Nolan Patrick of a wide-open net. The Garden erupted in applause for the big save and fans began chanting Georgiev’s name, probably a heartwarming sound for him to hear after a couple of rough outings.

➤ Mika Zibanejad achieved two single-game career-highs with six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-five rating Wednesday.

All of Zibanejad’s points coming in the second period, giving him the single-period franchise record, surpassing Bill Cook’s five-point period in 1933. Zibanejad also became the first in franchise history to register a natural hat trick with one even strength goal, one powerplay goal and one shorthanded goal in a single period.

“I mean, it was awesome to see,” Brett Howden said Thursday. “To see him have a night like that. He’s been playing strong for us and he’s been having chances every night. Just to see him finally get some puck luck and have some bounces going his way was awesome to see and he’s very deserving of it.”

It was a breakthrough game for Zibanejad after a slow start to the season. The 27-year-old’s struggles had left the Rangers without a No. 1 center, which has been a tough obstacle to overcome.

“I think his stat line says enough,” Klobauch said of Zibanejad after the win Wednesday. “He looked like a guy who had a lot of confidence, he was playing very similar to what I recognize from him from alt year. But I think a lot of it was their line having fun.”

➤ When Howden was a healthy scratch for the first time this season Saturday, the center was able to take a good look at how he was playing.

Since his return to the lineup, Howden has an assist in each of the past two games after registering two through the first 25 games.

“For me, it was just having a reset,” he said. “Just sitting out that game and being able to watch from up top and kind of focusing on my game and being prepared for the next one, was just a good jolt for me and, for me to really find my game. I just want to move on from it and keep trying to be better.”

➤ Chris Kreider had a maintenance day Thursday, but should be available this weekend.