The New York Rangers suffered a devastating loss on Monday night. No, it wasn’t just the 3-2 overtime decision against the Utah Mammoth. It was the club’s deprivation of starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin that stung the most.
During the first period of the Rangers-Mammoth clash, Shesterkin stretched to make a save. He immediately lay on the ice in visible agony, requiring assistance off the ice. Initially, it seemed as though Shesterkin had been hurt in a collision with Mammoth forward JJ Peterka. The replay, however, showed that was not the case.
The replay showed what appeared to be a groin strain. That’s the opinion that medical expert Dr. Harjas Grewal expressed upon reviewing the footage. In an X post, Grewal had this to say about Shesterkin’s potential injury:
Now, there is a concern about the Rangers‘ netminder’s left leg overextending on the play. That situation could have also played a role in Shesterkin’s injury. But following Occam’s Razor, a groin strain could be more in line with the mechanism of the situation.
If that’s the case, the injury might not be that bad. Unfortunately, groin injuries are tough to time. While a week-to-week prognosis may be in the cards, Shesterkin could be back on the ice much sooner than later.
The Rangers will likely have Shesterkin undergo further testing to determine the extent of the injury. Here’s hoping the situation is nothing more than just a scary incident.
Shesterkin Difficult to Replace for Rangers
Following the game, Rangers head coach spoke with the media, making his concern for Shesterkin’s injury evident.
Sullivan said the following, per The Athletic:
“There are certain guys that drive your team. He’s one of them for us. He’s an elite player at his position. I think he’s one of the very best in the game. When you lose a player like that for any length of time, those types of players are difficult to replace.”
Indeed, there’s no replacing Shesterkin. The Rangers will turn to Jonathan Quick to pick up the slack in Shesterkin’s absence. However, the loss of their starting goaltender means the Blueshirts will need to tread water until he can return.
Shesterkin’s injury timeline will be crucial in determining the next steps forward. If said timeline isn’t overly concerning, the Rangers might just be able to get by without their number-one netminder and remain in the playoff hunt.
Blueshirts Heading into Tough Stretch of Games
Frankly, the Rangers could not have lost their starting goalie at the worst possible time. The Rangers will face a stretch of games that could determine their season. The club will take on Eastern Conference rivals in the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins next Thursday and Saturday. They’ll play two more home games before going on the road for four, including three on the West Coast. That trip includes a three-games-in-four-nights set against the Anaheim Ducks and the LA Kings.
Heading into the Olympic break, the Rangers will play four games against Metro Division rivals, including a back-to-back against the New York Islanders. Those four games could very well determine the club’s playoff hopes.
Unless the Rangers can go on a hot streak even without Shesterkin, the ship might be sailing on this season.
Rangers Goalie Injury Might Not Be Too Bad: Expert