Rangers Announce Igor Shesterkin Out for Season Following Knee Injury

NEW YORK — The New York Rangers confirmed on Saturday that goaltender Igor Shesterkin is out for the remainder of the season due to a right knee injury sustained during Friday night’s road game against Washington.

Shesterkin was unable to bear weight on his right leg and was helped off the ice by teammates following an awkward collision into his own net against the Capitals.

The 30-year-old had advanced well out of his crease midway through the second period to challenge a shooter and lost his footing while scrambling back. As he slid toward the goal, his right skate struck the right post, and he collapsed into the net in pain.

“It’s awful, you know? He’s a pillar of this team. It stinks,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said following the 3-1 loss to the Capitals.

Editor’s Picks

Following the end of the team’s four-game winning streak, head coach Mike Sullivan emphasized the significance of the loss. “He’s an elite goaltender, and you never want to see anyone get hurt. Obviously, he’s an important player for us,” Sullivan said.

The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner previously missed a month last season with a lower-body injury, a setback that factored into the Rangers finishing last in the Eastern Conference.

Shesterkin was off to a strong start this season with a 3-1 record and a 1.79 goals-against average. Just last week, he made history by becoming the first Rangers goaltender to score a goal, lofting the puck the length of the ice into an empty net late in New York’s home opener against Tampa Bay.

“We’re not going to let that take the wind out of our sails,” Miller said regarding Shesterkin’s injury. “We love the way we’re playing most of the time.”

Shesterkin stopped 13 of 14 shots Friday before leaving the game with the score tied 1-1. Backup Dylan Garand, 24, relieved him. Garand allowed the go-ahead goal late in the second period but finished with 11 saves on 12 total shots.

The 24-year-old made his fifth career NHL appearance and second of the season, having been recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League after clearing waivers last week. Garand recorded 22 saves in a 2-0 shutout at Detroit last Friday during New York’s second game in two nights.

Garand went 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage in three starts for the Rangers last season.

New York acquired veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, 32, from the Boston Bruins last summer to serve as Shesterkin’s backup. However, Korpisalo was placed on injured reserve last week and is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The Rangers are expected to explore fill-in options given how thin they are at the position. Jonathan Quick, 40, is currently the Rangers’ director of goaltender development. He remains committed to his retirement decision after playing 25 games for New York last season, though he is loyal to the organization. So if the Rangers asked Quick to play this season, sources told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan they believe he could be a possibility.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Source link