Igor Shesterkin has made a positive progress in rehabilitation from an upper body injury.
The Star Rangers goalkeeper returned to practice on Wednesday. He was probably due to an injury on February 7th when he lost 3-2 to the Penguins.
Shesterkin did not practice on Tuesday during the team's first session for players who were not participating in the four-country showdown.
He practiced for limited time on Wednesday and left the exit early, but Coach Peter Rabiolet said it was always a plan to soften him.
Shesterkin missed the Rangers' final match before the break, winning a 4-3 4-3 over the Blue Jackets, and was expected to make it for a week or two.
Therefore, a break in the four-country showdown could mean that he must just miss one game due to injury.
However, the Rangers will return to action this weekend.
They remembered Dylan Garland and quickly backed up Jonathan to win the blue jacket before the break.
He replaced Shesterkin with one net (at the other speed) on Wednesday after his practice was over.
Shesterkin, who signed an eight-year, $92 million extension in December to make him the highest-paid goalkeeper to date, has now entered the season.
He owns a career-low .906 save percentage and a career-high 2.87 goals against the average.
Part of that could be attributed to the defensive issues around him, but Shesterkin certainly wasn't at his best or at the level the Ranger was used to.
Brett Berard, Brennan Osman, Jake Resticin Matthew Robertson I got up from Ahl Hartford and practiced with the Rangers on Wednesday – not as a recall, but as a swapping practice player, as permitted under the rules of the 4 Nations showdown.
The Rangers have four players in the championship game against Canada on Thursday. and Adam Fox.
Mika Zibanejad (Sweden) and Urho Vakhaninen (Finland) was eliminated, but they did not practice on Wednesday.
“I think it's good for them to work here a day, two days, whatever it is,” Rabiolet said of the four prospects after practice on Wednesday. “To get up and practice at this level, you have the opportunity to look at them and they have the opportunity to continue developing.
“For me, it was a good habit, it was fine, it was fast and competitive, so they jumped into it. I thought they looked great.”
Laviolette significantly increased the intensity of her practice on Wednesday compared to Tuesday.
