The injury bug that has plagued the Rangers just went for the jugular.
Several key Blueshirts have gotten hurt and had to miss time through the first half of the 2025-26 campaign, but none had the hope of the season flash before the team’s eyes quite like it did when goalie Igor Shesterkin went down in the first period of their 3-2 overtime loss to the Mammoth on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Shesterkin couldn’t put any weight on his left leg after Utah forward JJ Peterka drove to the net and made him fall over awkwardly.
There wasn’t much of a collision, as Peterka did his best to stop, but Shesterkin appeared to be in considerable pain while slamming his blocker on the ice.
The lack of direct contact with the left leg is what makes the apparent lower-body injury seem so daunting.
Not as daunting, though, as what the Rangers could possibly look like for an extended period of time without their star netminder.
“There are certain guys that drive your team, and he’s one of them for us,” said head coach Mike Sullivan, who didn’t have any further update on Shesterkin. “He’s an elite player at his position. I think he’s one of the very best in the game. When you lose a player like that for any length of time, those types of players are difficult to replace.”
The Rangers have barely given Shesterkin any score support this season, but the 30-year-old Russian has kept so many games close.
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There have been several instances of the Rangers facing a one-goal deficit or a tie-game situation when they very well could’ve been trailing by multiple goals. Shesterkin — albeit not his otherworldly self we’ve seen in the past — has played a major role in keeping this season afloat.
Well, the floaties could be coming off.
Jonathan Quick did his best in relief Monday night, stopping 14 of the 17 shots he faced in the loss. And when Daniil But knocked into him shortly after joining the game, Quick sent a message and went right after him.
“Have his back. Plain and simple,” Quick said of what was going through his mind when he saw Shesterkin go down. “Anywhere on the ice, when your guys go down, you need guys to step up. Step up as a group. Have their backs.”
The Rangers are fortunate to have a future Hall of Famer as their No. 2 goalie. If Shesterkin has to miss any length of time, Spencer Martin or Dylan Garand would likely be the top options to get the call.
A fourth-round pick by the Rangers in the 2020 draft, Garand has yet to make his NHL debut. When Quick was on injured reserve earlier this season, Garand served as Shesterkin’s backup for four games before Martin filled the role for two. Neither saw any actual ice time.
If Garand doesn’t get a look, it means the organization doesn’t think he’s ready quite yet.
Shesterkin already has a notable injury history just over 300 games into his NHL career. The Rangers can only hope it doesn’t keep growing.
“It’s not good to see anyone go down, and obviously what he’s done for us and how much he means to us,” Mika Zibanejad said.
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This condensed schedule due to the 2026 Olympic Games has been felt across the NHL, and the Rangers are no different.
The Rangers have had five players — Carson Soucy, Matt Rempe, Will Borgen, J.T. Miller and Quick — land on injured reserve at some point this season. Miller, who just shed his noncontact jersey, is still on IR after missing his seventh straight game Monday night with an upper-body injury.
Four skaters — Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, Adam Edstrom and Conor Sheary — have also gone on long-term injured reserve. While Fox just returned a few games ago, Sheary was just assigned after suffering a lower-body injury at Washington.
The list of aforementioned players doesn’t even include those who have missed games due to minor injuries or illness.
It’s been a constant battle all season, but this one could be a KO.
