James Reimer implodes early in first Rangers start as goalie issues get worse in loss to Kings

Joonas Korpisalo can’t recover soon enough.That statement acutely reflects the Rangers’ current predicament in goal after the recently signed veteran goalie James Reimer gave up three goals on eight shots to start a 6-3 thrashing by the Kings on Monday night that ended the Blueshirts’ undefeated streak at Madison Square Garden.Head coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged how much the organization has asked of Dylan Garand in recent weeks.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.

Garand had started the previous seven games, appearing in eight in a row dating back to when the rookie netminder relieved Igor Shesterkin after the star goalie suffered his season-ending knee injury in Washington.Signing Reimer, who was on a professional tryout with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford, was meant to give Garand a reprieve.And yet, there was Garand replacing Reimer at the start of the second period with the Rangers trailing 3-1.The 38-year-old Reimer was slow to react in his first NHL game of the season, giving up goals on each of the first two shots he faced.And when the Rangers finally started to catch some momentum following J.T.

Miller’s fourth goal of the season, Reimer couldn’t track a one-timer from Drew Doughty at the top of the zone and his team lost any push it had just as quickly as it started.Pulling Reimer early and attempting to salvage the game fell on a Rangers team that was already reeling.A cold Garand had to face a Kings power play almost immediately, and former Ranger Artemi Panarin was right there to deliver a 4-1 dagger.Garand ultimately gave up two goals on the 17 shots he faced in his fifth regulation loss of the season.Despite flashes of No.

1 goalie potential from Garand, the jury is still out on if he’s a seasonlong solution for the Rangers.The fact that Korpisalo, who has been on injured reserve with a foot infection, as confirmed...