In one of the most critical personnel decisions of David Quinn’s three-year tenure behind the Rangers bench, the head coach is going with Igor Shesterkin over Alex Georgiev in goal Thursday night against the Islanders.

“It certainly wasn’t an easy decision,” he said prior to the matchup at Madison Square Garden. “Obviously, [Georgiev has] had a stellar record against the Islanders, which certainly gives you a long pause to decide who to play. But Shesty’s play over the last six weeks – I know what his record is against the Islanders, it is a small sample size. We kind of looked at the last game we played, it was a little bit of an outlier because of the way things unfolded for us.”

Shesterkin has never beaten the Islanders, going 0-3-1 this season, which included a concerning 6-1 loss last week. He’s posted an .878 save percentage and a 3.75 goals-against average in those four games. However, the 25-year-old Russian has been the team’s de facto No. 1 netminder since he returned from his groin injury at the end of March.

Over that span, Shesterkin has started 15 of the last 19 games, stringing together a 9-4-2 record with a .922 save percentage and 2.51 GAA.

For as long as the Rangers have been riding Shesterkin, Georgiev’s numbers against the Isles were hard to resist. He owns a career 7-2 record with .944 save percentage and 1.70 GAA. Georgiev has gone 2-0 against the Islanders this season, including one shutout.

“You probably could make an argument either way and play either guy. I just felt with the direction Shesty’s games been going and the way he’s played over the last six weeks that he’s earned this opportunity,” Quinn said.

Jacob Trouba skated with the team for the first time Thursday morning since suffering what was described as an upper-body injury in the 6-1 loss to the Islanders on April 20.

The veteran defenseman had been skating on his own, but was ruled out for Thursday’s game. Trouba is still considered “day-to-day,” but is “certainly getting close,” according to Quinn.

“Troubs brings so much,” Ryan Lindgren said. “As far as off the ice, he’s such a leader. A guy that definitely us young guys really look up to, especially on the D core. He’s our leader back there and so to have him out is definitely tough. On the ice, he brings such a physicality and he’s such a presence out there that it’s definitely tough without him.

“But I think guys are doing a good job stepping up and filling in. We’re definitely excited to get him back.”

Chris Kreider did not participate in the morning skate Thursday, with the team saying it was for “maintenance” reasons.  

Quinn said Kreider would be a game-time decision for Thursday’s game.