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Rangers Lose Star Goalie Shesterkin to Apparent Leg Injury
ReRangers Lose Star Goalie Shesterkin to Apparent Leg Injury
Igor Shesterkin left Friday's game against Washington after jamming his right leg against the post, leaving the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers with an uncertain goaltending situation.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was helped off the ice Friday night after suffering an apparent lower-body injury, dealing a potential blow to a team that entered the game atop the Eastern Conference.
The injury occurred in the second period of the Rangers' matchup with the Washington Capitals, with the score tied 1-1. During a scramble around the net, Shesterkin slid across the crease to the far post and appeared to jam his right leg awkwardly against the post. He was visibly in pain and unable to put weight on the leg as teammates assisted him off the ice. The team later confirmed he would not return to the game.
Shesterkin, the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goaltender, had been off to a strong start this season. He carried a 3-1 record into Friday's game, along with a.926 save percentage and a 1.75 goals-against average. He had even scored a goal earlier in the season, on Oct. 1.
Dylan Garand entered the game in relief, but the young netminder had only four NHL games on his resume. While Garand performed reasonably well after taking over, Boone Jenner slipped a shot past him late in the second period, and that goal proved to be the game-winner.
The Rangers have won four of their first five games, and Shesterkin has been central to that early success. Losing him for any extended period would be a significant problem for the Blueshirts, who rely heavily on their star goaltender.
The team will await further evaluation to determine the severity of the injury. The incident also reignited a social media discussion among New York sports fans about whether the city's teams are cursed, given recent injuries to Yankees star Aaron Judge and Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. For now, the Rangers will take it one step at a time as they wait for updates on their most important player.
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