James Reimer's Rangers debut turns into a nightmare after just 20 minutes
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
James Reimer was pulled after one period in his Rangers debut, allowing three goals on eight shots as Dylan Garand took over in a 6-3 loss to the Kings.
James Reimer's first night as a Ranger ended before it got going.
The 38-year-old goalie was pulled after one period Monday in New York, and Dylan Garand took over to start the second as the Kings rolled to a 6-3 win.
Los Angeles scored on the first two shots Reimer faced, with Brandt Clarke getting one of them, and Drew Doughty made it 3-0 before the first intermission.
Reimer finished with five saves on eight shots, a brutal way to start a Rangers career.
Why the Rangers turned to Reimer
New York signed him Sunday after a short professional tryout with the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he stopped 35 shots in a shutout on Saturday.
The goal was to give Garand a breather.
Garand had started seven straight games since Igor Shesterkin went down with a season-ending injury on Oct. 9 in Washington.
Garand gave up five goals in each of his last two games, losses to Toronto and Ottawa, and Joonas Korpisalo is still out with a foot injury.
Coach Mike Sullivan admitted ahead of puck drop that Garand's workload had been heavy.
What happens next in the Rangers crease
Garand ended up playing his ninth appearance in as many games, so the break he was supposed to get lasted exactly one period.
The Rangers are off until Sunday, which at least gives him a full week to reset.
Reimer is a 16-year veteran with 493 career starts, and he tied Cam Talbot's NHL record for most teams played for by a goalie at nine.
With Shesterkin done for the year and Korpisalo hurt, New York needs somebody steady behind Garand, and Reimer was supposed to be that guy.
His next outing will decide whether this was a bad night or a bigger problem.
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