Shesterkin out for season for Rangers with lower-body injury

Igor Shesterkin will be out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury, the New York Rangers announced Saturday.

The goalie sustained the injury in a 3-1 loss at the Washington Capitals on Friday. He appeared to injure his right leg at 8:20 of the second period when his skate jammed into the goalpost while he was scrambling back into his net.

Shesterkin's leg bent awkwardly under him as he fell in the crease. The 30-year-old had to be helped off the ice by Rangers defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson and was unable to put any weight on his right leg.

"Tough hearing this news," forward Mika Zibanejad said after practice Saturday. "Obviously a huge part of our team and unreal teammate. He means so much for us obviously, so that (stinks). It's our friend. It's our teammate and when that happens, you think about him. You obviously feel bad that they have to go through it. It's just a tough situation obviously for us, but mostly for him."

Shesterkin had stopped 13 of 14 shots before leaving the game and was replaced by Dylan Garand, who made 11 saves.

Shesterkin is 3-1-0 in five starts with a 1.79 goals against average and .927 save percentage this season. He also scored his first NHL goal in a 5-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 1, shooting the puck down the ice into an empty net at 17:26 of the third period with goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy pulled for an extra attacker.

"A guy that means so much to our team," defenseman Adam Fox said. "Obviously still processing that and you still feel terrible. Personally having dealt with injuries the past few years and him too, it (stinks) when you're not able to be out there and help the team. He's such an important piece to this team. It's an opportunity for everyone else to step up."

Shesterkin is in his eighth season with New York after being selected by the Rangers in the fourth round with the No. 118 pick of the 2014 NHL Draft. He is in the second of an eight-year, $92 million contract signed on Dec. 6, 2024. It has an average annual value of 11.5 million, making him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history.

"Couldn't be more disappointed for 'Shesty,'" Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. "I know how much playing means to him, being part of the Rangers. He's obviously one of the cornerstones of this organization. I am disappointed for him because he is such a fierce competitor.

"Our message is, we keep fighting. It's a next-man-up mindset."

Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie in 2021-22, missed 13 games last season after sustaining a lower-body injury in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 5. He went 25-19-6 with a 2.50 GAA, .912 save percentage and one shutout in 51 games (all starts) last season.

The Rangers are already missing backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who will be out four weeks with a lower-body injury, meaning Garand will get his opportunity.

"He's excited. Dylan's a great kid," Rangers Sullivan said. "He's another fierce competitor, loves hockey and has aspirations to play in the NHL. He's a good goalie. Every time we've put him in the net, certainly since I've been here, he's made timely saves, he's given our chance a team to win. ... We think he's very capable."

Garand was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Oct. 1 after clearing waivers and being sent down on Sept 28. He made 22 saves for his first NHL shutout in a 2-0 victory at the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 2. The 24-year-old is 3-1-1 with a 1.31 GAA, .954 save percentage and one shutout in five career NHL games (four starts).

"You never want to see guys get injured, especially your best player in Igor," Garand said. "He means a lot to the guys in this room and a lot to me personally. ... I'm excited for the opportunity. Going to put my heart and soul on the line for these guys and this city every night and just try to help the team win."

Garand will get his first chance as New York's starter when it hosts the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; MSG, SNP).

"It's a dream come true to play in the NHL and I'm just trying to embrace that mentality and have a lot of gratitude for this opportunity," he said. "I love being part of this group and I love the guys in this room."

Garand, who went unclaimed on waivers, said he's motivated to prove he can handle the job.

"I think it's been 11 days, pretty crazy," Garand said. "I think I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder for how my past has been and I'm really excited for this opportunity to go battle for the guys.

"Obviously it's just one day at a time. I'm sure the coaches will figure something out, but for me, I'm a young guy, I've still got some legs, so whatever is needed of me, I'm ready to go."

NHL.com senior writer Tom Gulitti contributed to this report