The New York Rangers will be without another starter for at least one to two weeks after he sustained an upper-body injury during Friday’s 3–2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the timing works in their favor, as the NHL is set to pause for two weeks starting Monday due to the 4 Nations Face-Off, which begins Wednesday. He made 23 saves in the game, appeared to be in discomfort following a net-front scramble in the first period but remained in net for the full contest. According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, he is expected to recover in time to return after the international break.
“Igor Shesterkin (upper body) expected to return in 1–2 weeks. #NYR have recalled Dylan Garand to back up Jonathan Quick tonight in Columbus. Timeline should have Shesterkin ready for post-4 Nations games,” Staple posted on X. In Shesterkin’s absence, the Rangers turned to veteran Jonathan Quick as their starter, with Garand called up from AHL Hartford to serve as the backup. Quick, who holds an 8–5–2 record this season, started against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, leading the Rangers to a 4–3 win by stopping 22 of 25 shots.
Shesterkin, who signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension in December 2024, has faced recent struggles. After a strong start to January, winning six of his first seven games, he has gone 1–4–0 in his last five appearances. Despite his recent form, he remains the team’s top goaltending option, posting an 18–19–2 record with a 2.87 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 39 games this season. The Rangers head into the 4 Nations break with a 27-24-4 record (58 points in 55 games), sitting three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot.