Sports doctor raises alarming Igor Shesterkin injury update - and the NHL may be at fault
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Igor Shesterkin left the Rangers' loss to the Capitals with a lower-body injury, and the net that never moved is now a hot topic.
The Rangers got the kind of scare no team wants in the first month of the season.
Igor Shesterkin went down in the second period against the Washington Capitals on Friday night and never returned, and New York lost 3-1.
The team ruled him out with a lower-body injury.
It looked like his right skate jammed into the goalpost as he slid over to make a save.
He stayed down for several minutes, then needed two teammates to get him to the bench without putting weight on that leg.
Before leaving, he had stopped 13 of 14 shots and carried a 3-1-0 record and a 1.75 goals-against average into the night.
Coach Mike Sullivan called it concerning but had no update after the game, and captain J.T. Miller said the group would have to step up.
No timeline has been given.
What the injury could mean
Harjas Grewal pointed out that goalie injuries are always tough to read because of all the gear.
His worry is an ankle fracture, which can sideline a player for four to twelve weeks or more.
He also admitted a rotation could be hiding from view and it may be a sprain instead:
Those are educated guesses, not a diagnosis.
The Rangers have not said exactly what the injury is.
Why the net is a talking point
Grewal also believes the league should look into why the net did not come off its moorings.
He noted that pegs were created to help prevent this exact type of injury:
Dylan Garand took over and stopped 11 of 12 shots, but the depth behind him is thin.
Backup Joonas Korpisalo is already hurt, so the Rangers may need another call-up.
They host the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, and Saturday's practice should shed more light.
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Horrific scene in New York as Igor Shesterkin goes down with disgusting leg injury
Horrific scene in New York as Igor Shesterkin goes down with disgusting leg injury