The Rangers’ Friday night ended with a 3-1 loss to Washington, but the result quickly became secondary: Igor Shesterkin was helped off the ice after an apparent right-leg injury midway through the second period.
During a Capitals power play, Shesterkin scrambled back toward his crease and appeared to catch his skate near the post. He stayed down as trainers attended to him, then left without putting weight on his right leg. The Rangers described the issue as a lower-body injury. Coach Mike Sullivan had no update on his condition after the game, and no diagnosis or return timeline had been announced by Saturday morning.
Shesterkin stopped 13 of 14 shots before Dylan Garand entered. Garand made 11 saves as Washington turned a 1-1 game into a 3-1 win, ending New York’s four-game winning streak. The injury interrupted a strong start for Shesterkin, who had gone 3-1 with a 1.75 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in his first four starts.
The uncertainty is sharper because backup Joonas Korpisalo is already week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Garand, 24, has shown promise in a small NHL sample, but Shesterkin’s availability remains the central question for a Rangers team that had leaned on its goaltending early. The club is scheduled to host Vancouver on Sunday.
For now, there is no confirmed timetable to debate—only the sight of the Rangers’ star unable to leave the ice under his own power. The next update will determine whether Garand is filling in briefly or facing a larger role while Shesterkin recovers.
