The Rangers are set to activate star goaltender Igor Shesterkin from injured reserve ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the Devils, head coach Peter Laviolette confirmed to The Athletic’s Peter Baugh.
Shesterkin, 29, will make his first start since December 30 after recovering from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for over a week. With no available roster spots, the team is expected to send backup Louis Domingue back to AHL Hartford following his recall on New Year’s Eve to fill in during Shesterkin’s absence.
The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner had a rough stretch before his injury, conceding nine goals on 38 shots (.763 SV%) in back-to-back losses to the Lightning and Panthers. Against Tampa Bay, he was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 13 shots. However, in his three starts prior, Shesterkin had allowed just five goals on 106 shots, highlighting the inconsistency of his 2024-25 season.
This year, Shesterkin has posted a .906 save percentage, a 3.10 goals-against average, an 11-15-1 record, and one shutout in 27 games — marking the most challenging campaign of his career. Despite the struggles, advanced metrics paint a more nuanced picture. According to MoneyPuck, he has saved 9.5 goals above expected, ranking 11th in the league, and is outperforming his 2020-21 and 2023-24 seasons on a per-hour basis.
The Rangers are banking on him returning to elite form after signing him to a record-breaking eight-year, $92 million extension last month. Shesterkin’s career-best numbers came during his dominant 2021-22 season when he posted a .935 save percentage in 53 games.
In Shesterkin’s four-game absence, the Rangers went 2-1-1. Domingue played once, stopping 25 of 27 shots in a 6-2 victory over the Blackhawks, while veteran Jonathan Quick started the other three games, managing a .879 save percentage. Domingue is expected to return to Hartford, where he has struggled this season with a .888 save percentage, a 3.64 goals-against average, and a 4-9-2 record through 14 games. Meanwhile, AHL prospect Dylan Garand has been shining, posting a .929 save percentage in 16 outings and making a strong case for an NHL opportunity.
