Report: Jaroslav Halak replaces Igor Shesterkin as Rangers starter due to stomach issue
Igor Shesterkin was scheduled to start the New York Rangers contest versus the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday but instead it was Jaroslav Halak.
The Rangers number one led the team out for warmups and looked ready to go.
The Rangers even announced him as the starter before to everyone’s surprise it was Halak.
According to multiple reports, the New York Rangers stated that the late swap was due to a “stomach issue.”
Jaroslav Halak surprise start for Igor Shesterkin
Halak, 37, posted a 4-7-2 record with a .903 SV% and a 2.94 GAA in a limited role with the Canucks in 2021-22 as Thatcher Demko’s understudy. For his career, the native of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia has appeared in 556 games and boasts a record of 285-180-64 with 52 shutouts.
He’s a known battler with a career .916 SV% and a 2.49 GAA in stops with Montreal, St. Louis, NY Islanders, Washington, Boston, and Vancouver.
This preseason, Halak leads all Rangers goalies with a 0.99 GAA and a .967 SV%.
Shesterkin, 26, should play in the team’s final preseason game against the New York Islanders on Saturday night.
Last year’s Vezina winner posted a 36-13-4 record and led the league in both GAA (2.07) and SV% (.935). New York placed second in the Metro Division after going 52-24-6 for 110 points on the strength of his goaltending.
The New York Rangers and Boston Bruins are tied 1-1 through 12 minutes of play in the first period.
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