Rangers' Igor Shesterkin Suffers Lower-Body Injury
The New York Rangers are holding their breath, as goaltender Igor Shesterkin suffered a lower-body injury on Friday night, and had to be helped off the ice, unable to put any weight on his leg.
Shesterkin left in the second period of the game against the Washington Capitals. The Rangers would go on to lose the game 3-1, but losing Shesterkin for a long period of time could be very detrimental to their Stanley Cup Playoff chances this season.
“Well, it's concerning, obviously,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “He's an elite goaltender, and you don't ever want to see anybody get hurt, but, obviously, he's an important player for us.”
“Definitely not a good feeling for anyone seeing anyone on your team go down, especially a guy like that who's kind of the pillar on the back end there,” New York defenseman Adam Fox said.” “You know, it (stinks). Obviously, we're hoping for the best for him."
“It's awful,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said of Shesterkin’s injury. “He's a pillar of this team. It stinks. Obviously, it's (early). We don't even know what's going on, but to see him leave the game is a shot to all of us, a shock to all of us. But at the same time, it means we got to step up to a man to try to get the job done, especially (Garand).”
“He’s been a huge part of our team for a very long time,” Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said. “He's been giving us a chance to win every night, and tough to see him go down. Just hoping for the best, obviously.”
“He's a big part of this team, without a doubt,” Sullivan said. “I've said it on so many different occasions, he's one of amongst the best goalies in the world, if not the best. He's that good.”
The Rangers are already missing backup Joonas Korpisalo, and expect to see top prospect Dylan Garand get the bulk of starts.
Igor Shesterkin went down with a leg injury and had to be carried off the ice without putting weight on his right leg Hope he's okay 🙏 https://t.co/uDg7SAZ3c8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 10, 2026
“Well, it's concerning, obviously,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “He's an elite goaltender, and you don't ever want to see anybody get hurt, but, obviously, he's an important player for us.”
“Definitely not a good feeling for anyone seeing anyone on your team go down, especially a guy like that who's kind of the pillar on the back end there,” New York defenseman Adam Fox said.” “You know, it (stinks). Obviously, we're hoping for the best for him."
“It's awful,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said of Shesterkin’s injury. “He's a pillar of this team. It stinks. Obviously, it's (early). We don't even know what's going on, but to see him leave the game is a shot to all of us, a shock to all of us. But at the same time, it means we got to step up to a man to try to get the job done, especially (Garand).”
“He’s been a huge part of our team for a very long time,” Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said. “He's been giving us a chance to win every night, and tough to see him go down. Just hoping for the best, obviously.”
“He's a big part of this team, without a doubt,” Sullivan said. “I've said it on so many different occasions, he's one of amongst the best goalies in the world, if not the best. He's that good.”
The Rangers are already missing backup Joonas Korpisalo, and expect to see top prospect Dylan Garand get the bulk of starts.
**UPDATE: Shesterkin has been declared out for the season.
Igor Shesterkin is out for the season. https://t.co/64w3bO8b2V
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 10, 2026