New York Rangers

Shesterkin At Practice Sunday, Latest on Rangers Goalie

There’s good news and bad news when it comes to New York Rangers’ netminder Igor Shesterkin. He was at practice Sunday, but will he play?

by
NHL Trade Talk
August 2, 2020

There’s good news and bad news when it comes to New York Rangers’ netminder Igor Shesterkin.

The good news, he does not have COVID-19 and his absence from Saturday’s game versus the Carolina Hurricanes is unrelated to the pandemic. The bad news? He’s dealing with some kind of injury.

Shesterkin’s late scratch Saturday had a lot of people talking. Considered by many to be the handpicked starter for the five-game series, when the Rangers announced that Henrik Lundqvist was getting the net, media, fans and others tried to figure out why.

Henrik Lundqvist gets the nod in net for the @NYRangers in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Qualifiers series against the @Canes as Igor Shesterkin has been ruled “unfit to play.”https://t.co/LprjOq7Ntf
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 1, 2020

It’s not that Lundqvist isn’t one of the best goaltenders ever to play in the NHL. It’s more that this past season wasn’t kind to the veteran and Shesterkin is the future of the Rangers goal.

Shesterkin had been deemed “unfit to play,” and Alexandar Georgiev was named the backup for Saturday’s contest. Some were wondering if the head coach David Quinn’s resistance to name a starting goalie for two weeks, only for Shesterkin to get hurt the day before the first game was a coincidence.

Update on Shesterkin’s Possible Issue

As the game went on, the program feed showed Shesterkin in the stands. That immediately answered the question about whether or not he was sick. A positive test would have required he isolate and quarantine. That left either the idea he was in the doghouse (not likely) or an injury.

The good news is, Shesterkin was at practice for the Rangers on Sunday as all three goaltenders took the ice. His status for tomorrow’s Game 2 is uncertain but if he is able, it is expected he will be the starter.

pic.twitter.com/wYVLDaQtFl
— John Rosasco (@JRNYR) August 2, 2020

What about Henrik Lundqvist? The veteran was solid in Game 1 in a loss and he’ll likely be the backup. Some might say he’s earned another look and maybe the Rangers shouldn’t jump too quick to put Shesterkin in net if he isn’t 100%.