Igor Shesterkins injury and the all the possible ramifications hang over Rangers after loss to Capitals
WASHINGTON — It’s impossible to overstate the challenge that lies ahead for the Rangers should the injury Igor Shesterkin sustained during the second period of Friday night’s 3-1 loss to the Capitals sideline him for the foreseeable future. The Blueshirts would lose more than just the best goaltender in the NHL, who was off to an electric start to the season.Removing Shesterkin from the equation would be the equivalent of taking the spark plug out of a car engine: no ignition; nothing can run smoothly. Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.
He is, hands down, the most important part. What makes the potential loss so devastating is how much of a turbocharged, well-oiled machine the Rangers looked to be in the previous four games. Backstopping the Rangers in three of the four, Shesterkin looked automatic in net with 88 saves on 95 shots for a .926 save percentage.He’s made an impact on the scoresheet with the Rangers’ historic first goalie goal and added an assist, while also acting as an extra facilitator on the back end in all situations — a skill of his he’s used more than usual this season. Shesterkin helped provide the kind of start to the season that makes a team believe. In one swift motion, the 2026-27 campaign was clouded with uncertainty. The injury occurred during a second-period Capitals power play, when Shesterkin ventured far out of the crease to challenge an unmarked Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Capitals forward lost the puck while attempting to make a move around him, but Shesterkin scrambled to get back into the net and slid his right leg into the post hard.
His leg appeared to awkwardly bend back during the sequence, prompting Shesterkin to immediately fall onto his back. The 30-year-old slammed his glove on the ice in apparent pain as a Rangers trainer made his way onto the ice. Without putting any weight on his right le...