Ex-Rangers goalie picked before Shesterkin rejoins Lightning for playoffs

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Brandon Halverson will be one up this spring on Igor Shesterkin , the goalie the New York Rangers took two rounds after him in the 2014 draft: He’ll be part of a team taking part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, at least for a day. The Tampa Bay Lightning recalled Halverson from Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Sunday morning, hours before the opening game of their first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens and four days after he lost 4-2 to the Rangers in the regular-season finale for both teams. Despite the win, the Rangers (34-39-9) finished last in the Eastern Conference; the Lightning (50-26-6) edged the Canadiens for second place in the Atlantic Division and had the third-best record in the East.

Halverson is 24-11-6 with a . 905 save percentage, 2. 42 goals-against average and an AHL-leading six shutouts for the Crunch.

The native of Traverse City, Michigan, has played in 152 career AHL game between the Crunch, Tucson Roadrunners and Hartford Wolf Pack; he’s 71-54-21 with a 2. 67 GAA, . 903 save percentage and 12 shutouts.

The recall Sunday was Halverson’s second this week and fourth of the season. The Lightning returned him to Syracuse after he allowed four goals on 21 shots in the loss to the Rangers, dropping his career NHL record to 0-2-0 with a 4. 71 GAA and .