Joonas Korpisalo can't recover soon enough.
That statement acutely reflects the Rangers' current predicament in goal after the recently signed veteran goalie James Reimer g ave up three goals on eight shots to start a 6-3 thrashing by the Kings on Monday night that ended the Blueshirts' undefeated streak at Madison Square Garden.
"Let's just acknowledge we're in a difficult circumstance when our top two goalies are injured," head coach Mike Sullivan said after the loss. "We're trying to find a way to shore this thing up as best we can. I think Dylan has given us some really good games. His workload is mounting. For Reims, to come in the way he has in short order and come into a game like this, it's not an easy challenge.
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"It's a tough challenge and I just felt like the way the game was going, I just felt like maybe Reims needs a little bit more preparation before we put him in that circumstance. I put him in a tough spot. That's on me."
Earlier in the day, Sullivan acknowledged how much the organization has asked of Dylan Garand in recent weeks.
Garand had started the previous seven games, appearing in eight in a row dating back to when the rookie netminder relieved Igor Shesterkin after the star goalie suffered his season-ending knee injury in Washington.
Signing Reimer, who was on a professional tryout with the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, was meant to give Garand a reprieve.
And yet, there was Garand replacing Reimer at the start of the second period with the Rangers trailing 3-1.
The 38-year-old Reimer was slow to react in his first NHL game of the season, giving up goals on each of the first two shots he faced. And when the Rangers finally started to catch some momentum following J.T. Miller's fourth goal of the season, Reimer couldn't track a one-timer from Drew Doughty at the top of the zone and his team lost any push it had just as quickly as it started.
Pulling Reimer early and attempting to salvage the game fell on a Rangers team that was already reeling.
A cold Garand had to face a Kings power play almost immediately, and former Ranger Artemi Panarin was right there to deliver a 4-1 dagger. Garand ultimately gave up two goals on the 17 shots he faced in his fifth regulation loss of the season.
Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) reacts after the Kings score a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Despite flashes of No. 1 goalie potential from Garand, the jury is still out on if he's a seasonlong solution for the Rangers.
The fact that Korpisalo, who has been on injured reserve with a foot infection, as confirmed by The Post, is considered a potential saving grace is a telling sign of the current state of the Rangers goaltending depth.
Given a four-week timeline Oct. 10, Korpisalo is projected to return around Nov. 7 as the Rangers begin their four-game swing in Seattle and Western Canada. Sullivan said Korpisalo skated for the first couple of times in recent days and is "making progress."
Still, the 32-year-old goalie hasn't cracked a .900 save percentage in a single season since the 2022-23 campaign.
New York Rangers goaltender James Reimer reacts after allowing a goal in the first period during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Rangers are naturally looking to see what Korpisalo can do when he's ready, especially since president and general manager Chris Drury sent Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round pick to Boston to bring him to New York.
But for the first time in a long time, goaltending may be a big problem for the Blueshirts.
The five-day break in the game schedule couldn't be coming at a better time. Not only will Garand be able to rest up, but the Rangers will be one week closer to getting another option in net.
"It's been a lot of hockey for us players, I can't imagine for a goalie being out there all 60 minutes," Will Cuylle said. "Obviously, he's stepped up big time. Kind of a whirlwind of emotions for him probably with the scenario, but he stepped up and he's a hardworking kid. I think he's doing great and we got tons of faith in him."
The Los Angeles Kings celebrate a goal as New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand looks dejected during the second period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
While management dreamed of using the impending cap relief from Shesterkin's eventual season-ending LTIR designation to bolster other areas of the lineup, goaltending may need to take precedence if it becomes a consistent issue.
Although the Rangers' steadily deteriorating defensive structure isn't inspiring much confidence at the moment that such a move would even be worth it.
The Rangers lost to a Kings team that won its first two games of the season just last week after going 0-4-2 to start.
In ex-Rangers coach Peter Laviolette's first time back at MSG since taking over behind the Kings bench, Los Angeles jumped on the home team early.
New York Rangers goaltender James Reimer reacts on the bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. The Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Rangers 6-3. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Rangers' effort wasn't at the level it's been for a majority of this season, but repeatedly being burned by saveable shots made finding any rhythm impossible. It resulted in the Blueshirts giving up five goals or more for a third consecutive contest as they fell to 7-6-1 on the season.
"When we're disconnected, this is kind of what it looks like," Mika Zibanejad said. "We're late everywhere. We don't close. It's impossible to close, too, and get help when we're that spread out. Now we have a bit of a break here, and we've just got to swallow this one and reset."
