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Rangers Hit With Brutal Igor Shesterkin Injury News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jan 1, 2025 6:38 AM ET

The New York Rangers have placed star goaltender Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday.

Shesterkin’s absence will last at least three games, leaving the Rangers to rely on Jonathan Quick while recalling veteran Louis Domingue to take on backup duties.

Shesterkin, 29, suffered the injury during Monday’s 5–3 loss to the Florida Panthers when Panthers forward Sam Bennett was checked into him by Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren.

Despite briefly staying down on the ice, Shesterkin finished the game, stopping 21 of 25 shots.

“It’s a massive blow for us,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “Igor is a key part of this team, and we’ll need others to step up in his absence.”

Bennett goes through Shesterkin with a little help from Ryan Lindgren. #NYR pic.twitter.com/TcAB2g83Ak
— Snark Messier (@NYRFanatic) December 31, 2024

Shesterkin’s season has been average at best and marked by a 3.10 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 27 games.

Despite his struggles, however, Shesterkin remains fourth (min. 24 games played) in the league in goals saved above replacement with 9.5, per MoneyPuck, underscoring his value to a Rangers team that has struggled all season long.

Shesterkin’s placement on IR comes just weeks after signing an eight-year, $92 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history starting in 2025–26.

With Shesterkin sidelined, Quick is expected to handle the starting duties, with Domingue likely getting one of the starts in the team’s upcoming back-to-back games against Washington and Chicago scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

The Rangers, currently 16-19-1 and last in the Metropolitan Division, have lost four straight and 15 of their last 19 games. Their next matchup comes on Thursday when New York hosts the league-leading Boston Bruins.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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