Igor Shesterkin out for season after lower-body injury vs Capitals

New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that star goaltender Igor Shesterkin will miss the remainder of the 2026-27 NHL season following a lower-body injury sustained in Friday's 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The team announced the news on Saturday, describing the incident as a scary injury where Shesterkin's right skate jammed into the post while he was gliding across his crease in the first period.

Video replay showed the 30-year-old's leg bending awkwardly after the impact during a scramble in the Rangers' zone. Shesterkin was attempting to reposition after making a save when the collision occurred. Sullivan stated that the injury is concerning and emphasized that Shesterkin is an elite player important to the roster. Shesterkin, who signed an eight-year, $92 million contract in December 2024, was unable to put weight on his right leg and required assistance from teammates to leave the ice.

Dyland Garand replaced Shesterkin in net for the remainder of the game. The Rangers are currently managing additional goaltending absences, with Joonas Korpisalo expected to miss another month according to The New York Post, and Spencer Martin, who is with AHL Hartford, considered day-to-day. It remains unclear if New York will seek a replacement from outside the organization, though Sullivan suggested the topic should be discussed given current options.

Rangers captain J.T. Miller described the injury as awful, calling Shesterkin a pillar of the team. Miller noted that seeing Shesterkin leave the game was a shock to the group but stressed that the remaining players must step up to complete their jobs, specifically highlighting Garand's role. The injury interrupts a strong start for the Rangers, who entered this game with four straight wins after losing their season opener to the Boston Bruins. During that winning streak, Shesterkin allowed just five goals across four games, posting a .927 save percentage with 101 saves on 109 shots faced.