In the aftermath of the worst start of Dylan Garand’s NHL career, the Rangers didn’t blame the rookie goaltender who’s been thrust into the starting role after injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo.
It still added a disappointing twist to what otherwise had been a promising — and historic — start to his NHL career. Garand allowed four goals on 14 shots, including two in 31 seconds to end his night, before getting pulled in favor of Spencer Martin in the Blueshirts’ 7-1 loss to the Devils. Garand entered the night with a 1.15 goals against average and a .951 save percentage in 2026-27.
“It’s not on Dylan,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think Dylan’s played pretty good for us. He’s played sound hockey. … I know Dylan will bounce back. He’s a high-character kid. He’s a competitive guy. He’s played really well for us to this point. I would expect him to respond the right way, just like our team.”
Garand’s season to this point has been a whirlwind, as he was cut in training camp, placed on waivers, sent to AHL Hartford after clearing and then brought back up before the Rangers’ second game of the season once Korpisalo sustained a lower-body injury. Then, when Shesterkin’s season ended last Friday with a right knee injury, Garand became the starter — and proceeded to win his first two starts to give the Blueshirts hope of surviving without their franchise goaltender.
But Garand, for all the potential he has flashed, only has seven starts and eight appearances on his ledger with massive skates to fill. He stopped Jack Hughes in the first period, but everything unraveled after Evan Rodrigues beat him off a J.T. Miller turnover near the end of the first period and Luke Hughes’ shot deflected off Adam Fox’s skate and in at the start of the second.
“We’re gonna need him here for a lot of games,” Fox said, “and he’s been playing great. He’s mentally tough, and I know he can bounce back. … He knows how important he is to us as a team and what we’re trying to do. That game doesn’t fall on him by any means.”
The Rangers added some veteran goaltending depth to their organization in the wake of Shesterkin’s season-ending injury and Korpisalo’s presence on long-term injured reserve.
James Reimer, the 38-year-old who has played in 539 career NHL games, signed a professional tryout agreement with AHL Hartford, the Wolf Pack announced Thursday. Reimer can play in up to 25 games before they’d need to make a call on his future, and Hartford’s depth has been thinned with Garand and Martin — who began the season as the Blueshirts’ top two AHL options — now in the NHL. Callum Tung and Gabriel Carriere have been the Wolf Pack’s goaltenders so far. The Rangers said Oct. 10 that Korpisalo would miss another four weeks.
Reimer hasn’t started more than 25 games in a season at the NHL level since 2022-23, and last year, he appeared in 14 with the Senators — including 13 starts — while posting a 7-4-2 record, an .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals against average.
Alexis Lafrenière was given a game misconduct late in the third period over what he said to an official. … Matt Rempe and Scott Morrow were the Rangers’ scratches. … Justin Dowling centered the fourth line after his recall from Hartford on Wednesday.
