COLOMBUS, Ohio — Goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin is unable to quickly back up Jonathan in his blue jacket on Saturday night due to a sustained upper body injury at Madison Square Garden the night before.
The private injury that occurred during the Rangers' defeat to the Penguin is expected to put Shesterkin aside for a week or two, with star Russia's netminder returning to the end of the NHL's 4 Nations outbound break I expect it to be ready.
As a result, the Blues Shirt recalls a quick backup of Hartford Wolfpack goalkeeper Dylangaland in Columbus.
Saturday night is the Rangers' final game before a two-week break on the NHL regular season schedule.
A trainer came out to watch Shesterkin on Friday night after the 29-year-old appeared to hurt himself following the Goalmas Scramble in the second half of his second term.
He bent his right wrist after the sequence, but still ended the game, stopping 23 of the 26 shots he faced in a 3-2 loss to the Penguins.
Shesterkin has already suffered from injuries this season.
After suffering an upper body injury at the end of December, Shesterkin was placed in the injured reserve and missed four games from January 2-7.
He also missed the game on December 8th, as his wife was in labor.
The end of January wasn't the best, and the beginning of February wasn't the strongest for Shesterkin, who gave up four or five goals in three of his final five starts.
Of the 45 NHL goalkeepers who played at least three games from January 25th to February 7th, Shesterkin's .835 save percentage was second-worst, his former teammate and current He is ahead of shark goalkeeper Alexander Georgev (.825).
Shesterkin's 3.84 goals – average was the fifth worst in that period.
Of course, the Ranger as a team is 2-4 on that stretch and doesn't offer the easiest condition in front of him.
There were some unfortunate bounces and tough screens to compete in a 3-2 victory with the Bruins, but Shesterkin was not in his absolute A-game.
