New York Rangers News

Shesterkin was sidelined with an upper-body injury for New York's final game before the break for the 4-Nations Face Off but will likely return to the crease in one of their back-to-back contests this weekend. The Rangers are amid a competitive race for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and will need Shesterkin to return to his elite form. He struggled before his injury, posting an ugly .835 SV% in his last five contests (1-4-0).

When the Rangers returned from the 4Nations break, Shesterkin was still missing from practice and remains day-to-day. Shesterkin is reportedly skating on his own but has yet to return to team sessions. Unless he progresses quickly over the next couple of days, expect the Rangers to head into the weekend with Jonathan Quick and Dylan Garand as their goaltending tandem vs. Montreal on Saturday.

The Rangers have won two straight and will roll with Shesterkin between the pipes on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shesterkin wasn't heavily tested in his most recent outing but saved 15 of 17 shots (.882 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Before that outing, the 29-year-old netminder was going through a troubling stretch where he allowed four or more goals in three straight (0-3-0), posting an ugly .806 SV%. The Rangers enter Friday's contest as -187 home favorites against a Penguins squad that will be without Sidney Crosby (upper body).

The Rangers have won two straight and will likely roll with Shesterkin between the pipes on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shesterkin wasn't heavily tested in his most recent outing but saved 15 of 17 shots (.882 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Before that outing, the 29-year-old netminder was going through a troubling stretch where he allowed four or more goals in three straight (0-3-0), posting an ugly .806 SV%. The Rangers enter Friday's contest as -187 home favorites against a Penguins squad without Sidney Crosby (upper body).

Jones will slot in for Urho Vaakanainen, who was a late scratch on Wednesday due to an illness. Jones has one goal and seven assists in 26 games this season, and has not appeared in a game since December 23rd.

Vaakanainen was a surprise scratch on Wednesday, with the Rangers not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Zac Jones will draw into the lineup in his place.

The Rangers snapped a three-game losing skid on Sunday with Jonathan Quick between the pipes in a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, but the team will revert to Shesterkin on Wednesday against the Bruins. The 29-year-old Shesterkin seemed to be turning a corner on a disappointing season, posting a .948 SV% over a seven-game stretch (6-0-1) before following that up by allowing 14 goals in his next three games (0-3-0) and posting a horrid .806 SV%. The Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as sizeable -200 home favorites against a Bruins team that played last night, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-0.

Edstrom was limited to only 4:22 time-on-ice before exiting Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins due to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old Edstrom is averaging 9:16 time-on-ice and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 51 games this season. He will hope to return to the ice before the end of the regular season.