What Happened
In its latest mailbag, Pro Hockey Rumors evaluated the New York Rangers' start while Igor Shesterkin has been out for a significant stretch. The Rangers entered the weekend one point outside a playoff spot, and the mailbag questioned whether a goalie group of Dylan Garand, Joonas Korpisalo and James Reimer can carry the team to the postseason. The same mailbag addressed the Los Angeles Kings' poor start and a fan call for a rebuild.
Key Details
- Rangers entered the weekend one point out of a playoff spot.
- Dylan Garand, Joonas Korpisalo and James Reimer formed the Rangers' goalie group.
- Garand cleared waivers before the season and is getting an extended NHL look.
- PHR sees Garand as a potential NHL backup but not a starter.
- PHR doubts the Rangers make the playoffs with their current goaltending.
- The Kings won their first game only recently after a rough start.
What It Means
The Rangers' playoff hopes hinge on whether unproven goaltending can hold up in a deep Eastern Conference. PHR notes the Atlantic Division could again claim both wild-card spots, with Carolina, Washington and New Jersey likely ahead in the Metropolitan. For the Rangers, the stretch without Shesterkin doubles as an audition for Garand as a long-term backup.
What's Next
Shesterkin's return timeline is not addressed in the source. The Rangers' upcoming games will show whether the current goalie group can keep them in the wild-card race, while Garand's play will shape how the club views its backup position.