New York Rangers injury update: Igor Shesterkin sidelined 1-2 weeks with upper-body issue
Igor Shesterkin has an upper-body injury and will miss 1-2 weeks for the New York Rangers.
If ever there is good timing for an injury to their No. 1 goalie, this is it for the Rangers. Saturday represents their final game before a two-week break in the schedule for the 4 Nations Face-off. Jonathan Quick was in line to start against the Columbus Blue Jackets anyway after Shesterkin made 23 saves in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
The timeline for Shesterkin means he could be ready to go when the Rangers come out of the break Feb. 22 against the Buffalo Sabres.
Though it’s an unspecified injury, it appeared that Shesterkin hurt his hand or wrist during the second period against Pittsburgh. After a scramble by his net when he got tangled with another player’s stick, Shesterkin took off his blocker and appeared to be in pain. He was checked out by the Rangers trainer, remained in and finished the game.
It’s the second time Shesterkin’s been injured in the past six weeks. The 29-year-old sustained an upper-body injury against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 30 and missed four games. He returned Jan. 9 against the New Jersey Devils, a 3-2 overtime win, and was in top form, posting a 6-0-1 mark to help the Rangers vault back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.
However, his results have been mixed since. Shesterkin lost four of his past five starts, allowing 17 goals in the four defeats.
Overall, Shesterkin is 18-19-2 in 39 games this season with a 2.87 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and three shutouts. Though there have been dominant stretches by him, Shesterkin also has struggled at times behind a leaky Rangers defense. He’s allowed four or more goals 13 times this season.
Related: Rangers vs. Blue Jackets: 3 things to watch for in pivotal finale before 4 Nations break
Dylan Garand to back up Jonathan Quick for Rangers against Blue Jackets
Rookie Dylan Garand was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League to back up Quick against the Blue Jackets. An AHL All-Star this season, Garand is 12-7-4 with a 2.68 GAA, .913 save percentage and three shutouts. The 22-year-old is tied for fourth in the AHL in shutouts and is 11th in save percentage.
When Shesterkin was sidelined in January, veteran Louis Domingue received the call to back up Quick, and won his one start. Garand will be sent back to Hartford after the game Saturday since the Rangers do not have a game for the next two weeks.
In his last start, Quick became the 15th goalie — and first born in the United States — to win 400 games in NHL history. Quick made 34 saves in a 4-2 comeback win against the Vegas Golden Knights this past Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
Quick had lost his previous three starts (0-1-2) and is 7-5-2 in 17 appearances (14 starts) with a 3.04 GAA, .901 save percentage and two shutouts. Like Shesterkin, the 39-year-old has had some rough moments this season playing behind some poor defensive play.
The Rangers (26-24-4) are 12th in the Eastern Conference, five points out of the second wild card. They trail the ninth-place Blue Jackets (26-21-8) by four points, making this a crucial finale before the two-week break.
New York has six players participating in the 4 Nations Face-off, which begins next week in Montreal — Mika Zibanejad with Sweden, Urho Vaakanainen for Finalnd and Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck with the United States.
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