usatoday
The New York Rangers have emerged as one of the early surprises of the 2026-27 NHL season, but their strong start has been overshadowed by a significant setback. Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining a lower-body injury on Oct. 9. With backup Joonas Korpisalo also sidelined, the goaltending responsibilities have shifted to Dylan Garand, who had been slated to begin his fifth season in the American Hockey League.
Garand has responded admirably in his new role. In his first game as the No. 1 netminder, he turned aside 19 of 21 shots against the Vancouver Canucks. That performance followed a shutout in his previous start, and the Rangers currently sit second in the Metropolitan Division. The team's resilience has earned them the No. 4 spot in USA TODAY's NHL power rankings nearly two weeks into the season, with the number in parentheses reflecting changes from the preseason rankings.
Key Analysis
While Shesterkin's absence has dominated headlines, another storyline has been the breakout of Alexis Lafreniere. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick is averaging more than a point per game, highlighted by a four-point effort. Lafreniere has never surpassed 57 points in a single season, making his early production a promising development for the Rangers.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Philadelphia Flyers have stumbled to a 0-5-2 record, marking the first time in franchise history they have lost their first seven games. Injuries to Travis Konecny and Rasmus Ristolainen have compounded their struggles, and costly giveaways have exacerbated the situation. The team recently added free agent Michael Bunting in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but they remain at No. 31 in the rankings.
The Carolina Hurricanes hold the top spot, having won five consecutive games after dropping their first two. Balanced scoring has been key: first-liner Sebastian Aho has six goals in his last six games, while fourth-liner Mark Jankowski is riding a four-game goal streak. The defending champions continue to look formidable.
The Vegas Golden Knights have climbed to No. 3, powered by center Jack Eichel's MVP-caliber start. Eichel has amassed 12 points in his first six games, five more than his closest teammate. The Edmonton Oilers sit at No. 2, with defenseman Evan Bouchard making an early case for the Norris Trophy. Bouchard became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a season opener and had eight points after two games; his six goals are tied for the league lead.
Other notable movements include the Seattle Kraken jumping 17 spots to No. 13, thanks to a scoring surge that has lifted them to third in the league after finishing in the bottom five last season. The Winnipeg Jets also climbed 14 spots to No. 14, while the Buffalo Sabres plummeted 15 spots to No. 26. The Calgary Flames anchor the rankings at No. 32, having been outscored 27-8 in their first five games and waiving Connor Zary.
As the season progresses, the Rangers' ability to withstand Shesterkin's loss and the Flyers' efforts to reverse their historic skid will be key narratives to watch.
Originally reported by usatoday.