New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin will miss the remainder of the 2026-27 NHL season due to a right knee injury sustained against the Washington Capitals on October 9, 2026. The 30-year-old netminder was helped off the ice in the second period after his skate jammed into the goalpost.
Shesterkin sustained the right knee injury during the second period of a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on October 9, 2026. With the game tied 1-1 at the 8:20 mark, Shesterkin scrambled back toward his net to challenge a play, jammed his right skate awkwardly into the goalpost, and collapsed in the crease.
Teammates React to Shesterkin Leaving the Ice
Shesterkin remained down on the ice in clear pain, attended to by head athletic trainer Andy Hosler before defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson helped him off without putting any weight on his right leg. He retreated down the tunnel to the locker room as teammates and coaches absorbed the blow.
“It’s awful, you know? 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).”
Photo: Fox News
J.T. Miller, Rangers captain
Defenseman Adam Fox echoed his captain’s assessment about losing their defensive anchor, noting that it was definitely not a good feeling to see a player of Shesterkin’s caliber go down. Head coach Mike Sullivan also addressed the sobering reality of losing an elite talent, stating that he is among the best goalies in the world and a big part of the team.
“He’s an elite goaltender, and you never want to see anyone get hurt. Obviously, he’s an important player for us.”
Mike Sullivan, Rangers head coach
Center Mika Zibanejad also voiced his thoughts on the team’s ongoing situation, noting that the goaltender has been giving them a chance to win every night and is a huge part of the club. General manager Chris Drury and the front office now face tough decisions regarding the roster, with external options such as free agents James Reimer, Petr Mrazek, Matt Murray, and Chris Driedger potentially available, while trade possibilities or retired veteran Jonathan Quick have also surfaced in discussions.
Previous Stats and Early Season Performance
Before exiting the game against Washington, Shesterkin had turned away 13 of 14 shots. In his first four appearances of the season, the 30-year-old posted a 3-1-0 record, a 1.75 goals-against average, and a .926 save percentage.
Dylan Garand Steps Into Starting Role
The injury leaves the Metropolitan Division leaders short-handed in the crease, as veteran backup Joonas Korpisalo is already sidelined week to week on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and has yet to resume skating. That leaves 24-year-old rookie Dylan Garand to assume starting responsibilities. Garand was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on October 1 after clearing waivers.
Photo: Sports Illustrated
Garand stopped 11 of 12 shots in relief against Washington after taking over for Shesterkin. He enters the role with limited NHL experience, having posted a 3-1-1 record across five career games, including a 22-save shutout against the Detroit Red Wings on October 2. Behind Garand, the organization faces depth questions with Spencer Martin listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, leaving 22-year-old Callum Tung as a potential backup option for the team’s upcoming matchup against the Vancouver Canucks on October 11.
Igor Shesterkin is OUT for the season with a lower-body injury
Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.
