Story by
Rangers’ Joonas Korpisalo takes big step toward return from injury
- Story by
- Rangers’ Joonas Korpisalo takes big step toward return from injury
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Rangers' Joonas Korpisalo takes big step toward return from injury appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Dylan Garand has appeared in every one of the New York Rangers ' games since Igor Shesterkin suffered a season-ending injury in early October — but reinforcements could be on the way.
Advertisement
Joonas Korpisalo, who was acquired from the Boston Bruins to be Shesterkin's backup in 2026-27, suffered both a lower-body injury and a foot infection that have kept him out of the lineup since the preseason.
But the veteran was sent to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment Wednesday, the team announced.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
He practiced with the Rangers for the first time during the regular season on Oct. 30, and he's now taking the next step in his injury recovery.
James Reimer signed a one-year contract with New York on Oct. 25 but was injured in the first period of his team debut — a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 26.
Advertisement
Garand has been between the pipes ever since, snapping a four-game losing streak by making 32 saves on 33 shots in a 3-1 victory against the visiting St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
The rookie has been above average since Shesterkin went down, but he's already shouldered a heavy workload just over a month into the 2026-27 campaign. Garand is 5-6-1 with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
Having a steady veteran behind him should help stabilize New York's crease, and Korpisalo could provide that support once he's ready to return.
The conditioning assignment gives him an opportunity to get game action before rejoining the Rangers, although it doesn't establish a firm return date.
Advertisement
A 12-year National Hockey League veteran, Korpisalo will at least give the Rangers another experienced option to ease Garand's workload. Garand had appeared in only three NHL games before being thrown into the fire this season.
Korpisalo was solid as Jeremy Swayman's backup in Beantown; the Finnish netminder managed a 14-9-6 record in 31 games with a .894 save percentage and a 3.15 goals-against average in 2025-26.
Click Above to Subscribe
Until he is ready to rejoin the team, Garand figures to continue seeing the lion's share of starts, especially given the way he played against St. Louis on Tuesday.
The Rangers are back in action against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
Related: Harry Styles gets shoutout during Oilers' blowout of Rangers
