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The New York Rangers' 2026-27 campaign took a severe hit when starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin sustained a season-ending knee injury in a game against the Washington Capitals. Shesterkin, widely regarded as the top netminder in the NHL, leaves a significant void. The situation is compounded by the absence of backup Joonas Korpisalo, who was already unavailable before the season began. As a result, the Rangers have turned to rookie Dylan Garand, who has rapidly ascended from the AHL to the top spot on the NHL depth chart in under two weeks.
For the Rangers to avoid a downward spiral, they will need a full-team commitment from all skaters to support Garand. One area where they have excelled and must continue to perform at a high level is the penalty kill.
Penalty Kill Excellence
Goaltending is crucial on the penalty kill, and Shesterkin was outstanding in those situations. Garand will aim to maintain that standard, but the players in front of him have also been exceptional. According to NHL.com, in the game against the Capitals, New York successfully killed all three Washington power plays. That performance improved their season totals to 17 successful kills out of 19 shorthanded situations, giving them an 89.47% success rate, which ranks ninth in the league.
The 19 power-play opportunities against are tied for the third-most in the NHL with the Florida Panthers. However, the Rangers have allowed only two power-play goals, tied for the third-fewest in the league. The Colorado Avalanche are the only team yet to surrender a power-play goal this season; six teams have allowed one, and eight others, including New York, have allowed two.
A power play can generate significant momentum. Fans become energized when their team has the man advantage, and scoring chances increase. New York has done an excellent job of preventing those momentum swings, killing 100% of their penalties on the road so far; they are one of six teams in the league to achieve that.
Staying sharp defensively in all situations, especially when shorthanded, is critical for the Rangers to remain competitive without their star goaltender. Garand has performed well in his limited NHL appearances, but he is not Shesterkin—no one is—so everyone must elevate their play to keep the team moving in the right direction.
Kenneth Teape is a 2013 graduate of SUNY Old Westbury, where he earned an Honors Degree in Media Communications with a focus on print journalism. During his time at Old Westbury, he worked for the school newspaper and several online publications, including Knicks Now, the official website of the New York Knicks, and a self-made website with fellow students called Gotham City Sports News. Kenneth has also served as a site expert at Empire Writes Back, Musket Fire, and Lake Show Life within the FanSided Network. He has contributed to HoopsHabit, with work featured on Bleacher Report and Yardbarker. In addition to his work here, he is a reporter for both NBA Analysis Network and NFL Analysis Network, as well as a writer and editor for Packers Coverage. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @teapester725, or reach him via email at [email protected].