The New York Rangers are in action on Friday night against the divisional rival Washington Capitals, but fans everywhere are now holding their breaths after a frightening moment involving franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
Shesterkin, the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL, was hurt and has left the contest against the Capitals, suddenly casing a cloud of uncertainty around the Rangers, who are already without backup Joonas Korpisalo.
New York Rangers Goaltender Igor Shesterkin Was Hurt And Left Friday’s Game Against Washington
During the second period at Capital One Arena, Shesterkin scrambled to get back into position but appeared to land awkwardly, tumbling backward into the net and writhing in pain as play was stopped.
He had to be helped off the ice, unable to put any weight on his leg. Now, Dylan Garand, who was called up after the injury to Korpisalo, is manning the net.
Not surprisingly, it wasn’t long before the Rangers announced that Shesterkin would not return to the game.
So far this season, Shesterkin is posting elite numbers, enjoying a 3-1 record with a solid 1.76 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. He also picked up his first career goal las week, becoming the first goalie in Rangers history to find the back of the net.
However, New York’s goaltending situation is already extremely thin thanks not only to an injury to Korpisalo, but to Spencer Martin, currently with the American Hockey League affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.
The Rangers Already Don’t Have Backup Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo Available To Them
If Shesterkin is out for any length of time beyond Friday’s game against the Capitals, they’ll have to turn to the American Hockey League once again for reinforcements. But there’s only one problem – Spencer Martin isn’t available either because of an injury of his own.
In the most recent update from head coach Mike Sullivan, Korpisalo isn’t any closer to returning to the ice in practice; neither is forward Joe Veleno.
Like Korpisalo, Veleno is playing in his first year with the Rangers, but was placed on Injured Reserve.
Unfortunately for the Rangers, the NHL schedule does not pause to allow players to heal; regardless on whether Shesterkin is healthy, the Rangers will host the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin Suffers Scary-Looking Injury