The New York Rangers will be without their top goaltender for at least the near future after placing Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve Tuesday. The move comes one day after Shesterkin suffered a lower body injury early in the first period of Monday’s loss to Utah. Being placed on IR means he will miss a minimum of seven days, though early indications suggest the situation could have been worse. According to ESPN, the Rangers believe they avoided a worst case outcome with the injury.
New York also announced that defenseman Adam Fox has been placed on long term injured reserve due to a lower body issue. The designation requires Fox to sit out at least 10 games and 24 calendar days, further testing the Rangers’ depth on the blue line.
Shesterkin, 30, was injured following a collision with Mammoth forward JJ Peterka. While the contact itself appeared light, it occurred as Peterka raced toward a loose puck and brushed Shesterkin’s glove. The goalie fell backward into the crease and remained down for several minutes. When helped off the ice by a trainer and teammate, Shesterkin appeared unable to put weight on his left leg, raising immediate concern. He exited the game roughly 13 minutes in after stopping all nine shots he faced.
Despite the scare, Shesterkin has been solid this season. Through 34 starts, he holds a 17 12 4 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.45 goals against average. The former Vezina Trophy winner, who earned the honor in the 2021 22 season, owns a career record of 179 100 26 across 308 regular season games, along with a 2.52 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. Veteran Jonathan Quick stepped in to finish Monday’s game and is expected to shoulder the workload while Shesterkin recovers.
Fox’s absence is another significant blow. The 27 year old had only recently returned from a shoulder injury that cost him 14 games. In 30 appearances this season, he has recorded four goals and 24 assists, including two power play goals. The former Norris Trophy winner has compiled 397 points in 461 career games, reinforcing just how impactful his loss could be for New York.
