There is an understanding that Alexandar Georgiev is likely going to play more at the start of this year than he did last season, when he sat while Henrik Lundqvist played seven of the first eight games, 13 of the first 16, and 25 of the first 32. Lundqvist, 36, struggled in the second half of the season for the second straight year, due in part to the team being sold off in pieces around him.
But as Georgiev prepares to play the whole game in the final preseason match, Saturday night against the Islanders in Bridgeport, Conn., he wasn’t looking at the big picture. Instead, he knew he was going to have to earn the starts away from Lundqvist.
“You always want to play more, but I have to play really good to get more games,” Georgiev told The Post. “I try to focus on that part. Just get better every day.”
This training camp was a chance to get a first glimpse at 23-year-old Russian goalie Igor Shesterkin, long thought of as Lundqvist’s heir. That might still be true, but it seems likely he is going to start the year adapting to the North American game with AHL Hartford.
That leaves Georgiev as the one who might carry a heavier load, the hope being that Lundqvist stays fresh and doesn’t get run down. And that’s a responsibility Georgiev is ready to embrace.
“The last game I played, I definitely felt much better,” said Georgiev, who stopped 15-of-16 shots against the Islanders on Tuesday. “I got into my routine, felt like that pace was good. So I just try to work on things and get ready for every game.”
Coach David Quinn had a good line when it was brought up to him there could be a chance his team has eight players who are 21 years old or younger — Kaapo Kakko, Vitali Kravtsov, Filip Chytil, Lias Andersson, Brett Howden, Adam Fox, Libor Hajek, and Ryan Lindgren.
“If they deserve to be here, based on our roster, then they’ll be here,” Quinn said. “Good thing I coached college hockey.”
The roster for Saturday was unclear, as Quinn came in from a hard practice with a lot of teaching and said there are still some organizational decisions to be made. He did say there are roster spots still up for grabs, and he would like to carry a full roster of 23 players for opening night on Oct. 3.
Forward Steven Fogarty was sent to AHL Hartford .
