from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- The process has reached the point where Igor Shesterkin, 4-1 after another sterling performance in Wednesday’s 5-3 victory over the Maple Leafs, has emerged as the clear No. 1. The process has reached the point where management has no desire to trade Alex Georgiev.

The process has reached the point as acknowledged by David Quinn prior to Wednesday’s match that, “It’s hard to keep three guys sharp.”

The process has reached the point, I believe, where the team isn’t going to try to do that for very much longer, if at all.

I don’t know exactly how this is going to play out the rest of the season for Lundqvist, who has seemed serene and perhaps a bit wistful since Shesterkin’s Jan. 7 arrival. It is hard to envision him practicing every day and then backing up every game. (Though I guess that’s what Alex Auld did during his two months as Lundqvist’s backup in 2009-10).

- Well, Jacob Trouba’s no-move clause kicks in on July 1, and management would be foolish not to listen if there are inquiries into the 25-year-old defenseman (26 in three weeks) before then.

- Brendan Smith earned his ice time as a fourth-line winger while serving as a quite effective penalty killing defenseman the first four months of the season.

But now that Ryan Lindgren has supplanted Smith on the PK, there is little reason to continue to continue go with No. 42 up front.

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