Rangers concern after Igor Shesterkin sustains scary injury vs. Mammoth
Igor Shesterkin sustained a lower-body injury and needed to be helped off the ice during the first period of the New York Rangers’ game against the Utah Mammoth on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
The 30-year-old goalie writhed in pain after he fell back into his net following a slight collision with Mammoth forward J.J. Peterka at the 13-minute mark of the opening period. Shesterkin made a right-pad save as Peterka drove hard down the middle of ice with a step on Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider. The rebound eluded Peterka, who jammed on the brakes to best avoid a collision with the Rangers netminder at the top of the blue paint.
Still, Shesterkin awkwardly fell backward, and it’s not easy to tell when exactly the injury occurred, or what the specific injury is.
Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov helped Shesterkin off the ice, along with the Rangers trainer. Shesterkin didn’t put weight on his left leg, even though it was untouched by Peterka.
The Rangers announced before the start of the second period that Shesterkin wouldn’t return to the game.
Jonathan Quick replaced Shesterkin, and made three saves over the final seven minutes of the first period, including one against Peterka on a breakaway.
The feisty 39-year-old took exception when Utah’s Daniil But backed into him two minutes into the second period. Hot on the heels of the Shesterkin injury, Quick went after But and started a mini melee behind the Rangers net.
But was assessed a minor penalty for goaltender interference, and Quick took a roughing minor.
MORE TO COME
