Rangers place Korpisalo on IR with lower-body injury, recall Garand

Dustin Judge
boston bruins

The New York Rangers placed backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo on injured reserve Thursday with a lower-body injury, according to the Post’s Mollie Walker. Korpisalo is week-to-week, and the team recalled Dylan Garand from AHL Hartford to back up Igor Shesterkin for Thursday’s home opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning, per the Post.

Korpisalo took part in a brief practice Wednesday but sat out a lightly attended optional skate Thursday morning. It is unclear when the injury occurred.

What the team said

The IR designation requires Korpisalo to miss at least seven days, making him eligible to return as early as the Rangers’ Oct. 9 game against the Washington Capitals, per the Post. NHL.com confirmed the move, noting Korpisalo “has been placed on injured reserve” and is “week to week.”

Who replaces him

Garand, who lost the battle to be Shesterkin’s backup during training camp, was recalled from Hartford and is expected to serve as the No. 2 goalie behind Shesterkin, per the Post. Garand had been placed on waivers earlier in the week and cleared before being assigned to the AHL’s Wolf Pack, a move that briefly risked losing him off the roster entirely.

With Shesterkin starting the home opener and the Rangers set to finish a back-to-back Friday in Detroit, Garand could be in line to start that second game, according to the Post. Spencer Martin would have been the next goaltender in line for a call-up had Garand not cleared waivers.

Season context

Korpisalo was acquired by the Rangers from the Boston Bruins in July in exchange for a fourth-round pick and a prospect. He had appeared in the team’s third preseason game against the New Jersey Devils, stopping 20 shots in regulation and three more in a shootout win.

The early injury adds pressure to a goaltending depth chart the Rangers had just reshuffled, with Garand going from a training-camp cut to a potential starter within days.

What’s next

The Rangers host the Lightning on Thursday with Shesterkin in net, then play the second half of their back-to-back Friday at Detroit. Korpisalo’s earliest possible return is the Rangers’ Oct. 9 game against the Capitals, pending further updates on his recovery.

Reporting from New York Post and NHL.com contributed to this story.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.