Rangers' Igor Shesterkin leaves game in first period with leg injury

The Rangers already were facing a tough task as they attempt to make the playoffs in an ultracompetitive Eastern Conference. It figures to be even tougher now after No. 1 goaltender Igor Shesterkin suffered a leg injury in Monday night’s game against the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden.

Shesterkin left the game with 7:00 remaining in the first period, helped off the ice and to the dressing room, unable to put any weight on his left leg.

Without him, the Rangers took the lead twice, on power-play goals by Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck, but they lost in overtime, 3-2, on a goal by Utah defenseman Sean Durzi at 1:06 of the extra period.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan didn’t have much information about Shesterkin’s status after the game.

“Obviously, we don’t want him to get hurt . . . he’s an important part of this team,’’ Sullivan said. “Hopefully it’s not too serious. I don’t have an answer for you, because obviously they’re going to do more tests. But right now, he’s being evaluated.’’

Jonathan Quick replaced Shesterkin and made 14 saves, allowing all three Utah goals.

Asked what his first thought was when he saw Shesterkin go down, Quick said it was “having his back, plain and simple. You know, anywhere on the ice, when your guys go down, you need guys to step up, as a group, and have their backs.’’

Shesterkin was injured after making a right pad save on a shot by Dylan Guenther. J.J. Peterka, who was driving the net, appeared to pull up at the last second, but his skate tapped Shesterkin’s right pad.

The contact appeared unintentional and minimal, but Shesterkin already was falling over backward into the net. It immediately was clear he was in trouble as he slammed his glove on the ice repeatedly. The television replay seemed to show his left knee buckling or hyperextending.

If the injury keeps Shesterkin out for an extended period, the Rangers’ chances of making the playoffs figure to be hampered significantly.

“There are certain guys that drive your team, and he’s one of them for us,’’ Sullivan said. “He’s an elite player in his position. I think he’s one of the very best in the game. And when you lose a player like that for any length of time, those types of players are difficult to replace.’’

Quick, who will turn 40 this month, likely will need to shoulder the goaltending load for a while. The Connecticut native and three-time Stanley Cup winner has 407 wins, the most by an American-born goalie, and has played well in a backup role this season. With a 2.23 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, he should have a better record than his 3-6-2 mark.

Coming off the bench cold, Quick looked sharp, and he was feisty. When Utah’s Daniil But crashed the net in the second period and failed to pull up in time to avoid knocking him over, Quick jumped up and shoved him. Both players were penalized, But for goalie interference and Quick for roughing. Jonny Brodzinski served his penalty for him.  

Guenther (at 12:38 of the second period) and Michael Carcone (at 6:15 of the third) scored the Utah goals that tied it at 1-1 and 2-2.

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.