The Rangers entered Monday hoping to build on the momentum they thought they’d sparked with a win in the Winter Classic on Friday.
Instead, that momentum came to a screeching halt midway through the first period against the Mammoth when Igor Shesterkin was knocked out of the game with an apparent left leg injury after he fell awkwardly as Utah’s JJ Peterka charged toward him.
Then, they fell in overtime 3-2 as Utah’s Sean Durzi beat Shesterkin’s replacement, Jonathan Quick.
Of greater concern is Shesterkin’s status.
Peterka ended up not making much — if any — contact with Shesterkin, but the goalie remained on the ice for several minutes in obvious pain while being attended to by a trainer.
After slamming his pad on the ice several times, Shesterkin got to his feet as chants of “Igor” rang through the Garden.
He had to be assisted off the ice and ruled out with a lower-body injury, replaced by backup Quick.
The 30-year-old Shesterkin is in the midst of another standout season, having appeared in an NHL-high 34 games and with a 2.47 goals against average.
Not surprisingly, he’s been a key reason why the Rangers hadn’t fallen even further in the standings.
They entered Monday tied for 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Prior to the game, owner James Dolan expressed belief not only in the future of the organization, but also this year’s squad, saying on WFAN, “Don’t give up on my team.”
If Shesterkin is out for any extended amount of time, it might be hard not to.
As for the game itself, things got chippy early in the second period, when Daniil But bumped into Quick, igniting a scrum, as Quick went right at But.
Mika Zibanajed was denied on a breakaway by Karel Vejmelka to keep the game scoreless.
The Rangers went ahead with a power-play goal at 8:29 in the second, as Alexis Lafrenière knocked in a perfect feed from Zibanejad.
The Mammoth tied the game 1-1 at 12:39, as Dylan Guenther knocked in his own rebound, beating Quick.
With a two-man advantage, the Rangers went up 2-1 at 16:36 in the second, when Vincent Trocheck tipped in a shot attempt by Artemi Panarin.
Utah’s Michael Carcone bullied his way into the crease and beat Quick to make it 2-2 at 6:15 in the third.
Prior to the game, head coach Mike Sullivan said, “This league is so much about emotion and about momentum. When you have momentum, you want to ride it. When you have success, the feeling around the group is better. The mood is better. There’s an uptick in team confidence. Those are the human elements in sports.”
So is the disappointment of losing at home — again — and seeing your star goalie hobbled.
Shesterkin adds to the list that includes J.T. Miller and Adam Edstrom — among others — and just after they got back Adam Fox.
