New York Rangers News
Shesterkin allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Rangers win in Buffalo on Wednesday. Shesterkin has turned in three strong performances in a row, going 2-1-0 while stopping 79 of the 85 shots (.929 SV%) that he's faced. This afternoon he'll face a stingy Kings team that has averaged just 2.6 goals for and 2.0 goals against in their last 11 games.
With K'Andre Miller (upper body) placed on Injured Reserve, Mackey will make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old Mackey has 40 games of NHL experience but has primarily been an AHL play, including scoring six points (2G / 4A) in 22 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season.
Miller played 13:42 TOI before leaving Wednesday's game in Buffalo. He will miss at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old defenseman saw expanded minutes following the Jacob Trouba trade, averaging over 23 minutes per game in the two games before Wednesday.
Miller played 13:42 TOI before leaving Wednesday's game in Buffalo. It will be a big blow to the Rangers' blueline if Miller is forced to miss some time. He saw expanded minutes following the Jacob Trouba trade, averaging over 23 minutes per game in the two games before Wednesday. The Rangers did not have an update on Miller's status post-game, so consider him questionable to play Saturday vs. the Kings.
The struggling Rangers have lost eight of their last 11 games and will be desperate to return to the win column on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Shesterkin played well in his previous outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%), but didn't receive any goal support as the Rangers were defeated 2-1 by the Chicago Blackhawks. The 28-year-old Shesterkin is sporting a 2.95 GAA and .910 SV% in 20 games this season (9-10-1). The Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as -134 road favorites against a Sabres club riding an ugly seven-game losing skid (0-4-3).
The struggling Rangers have lost eight of their last 11 games and will be desperate to return to the win column on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Shesterkin played well in his previous outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%), but didn't receive any goal support as the Rangers were defeated 2-1 by the Chicago Blackhawks. The 28-year-old Shesterkin is sporting a 2.95 GAA and .910 SV% in 20 games this season (9-10-1). The Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as -134 road favorites against a Sabres club riding an ugly seven-game losing skid (0-4-3).
Berard will fill in for Jimmy Vesey, who is listed as a scratch for Monday night's game against Chicago. Berard has one goal and one assist in four games this season.
Vesey was a surprise absence on Monday, and it's unclear whether he is simply a healthy scratch or if he is dealing with an undisclosed injury. Brett Berard will draw into the lineup in his place.
Shesterkin was away from the team in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Seattle Kraken, attending to the birth of his child, but will return to the crease on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 28-year-old Shesterkin signed a massive eight-year, $92 million contract extension ($11,500,000 AAV) last week, making him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. Shesterkin played well in his most recent outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but has struggled lately, allowing four or more goals in three of his last five (1-4-0), posting a .892 SV%. The Rangers enter Monday's contest as -241 home favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks club amid a five-game losing skid.
Garand was recalled to serve as Jonathan Quick's backup on Sunday as Igor Shesterkin was away from the team to tend to the birth of his child. Garand was the 103rd overall pick of the Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to play an NHL game. The 22-year-old goalie has a 2.42 GAA and .917 SV% in 11 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).
Shesterkin's $11.5 million AAV makes him the highest paid goaltender in NHL history. The 28-year-old Shesterkin won the Vezina trophy in the 2021-22 season and has a 2.48 GAA and .920 SV% across 231 career games (143-68-18). Considered by many to be the best goalie in the NHL, Shesterkin has struggled lately, uncharacteristically allowing three or more goals in seven of his last nine (2-7-0), posting an ugly .882 SV%.
Vaakanainen was limited to only five games with the Ducks this season, scoring one point (0G / 1A), and will get a fresh start with the New York Rangers. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen was the 18th overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He played a career-high 68 games with the Ducks last season, tallying 14 points (1G / 13A).