With Igor Shesterkin (lower body) on Injured Reserve, the Rangers have recalled Spencer Martin from Hartford (AHL) to serve as Jonathan Quick's backup. The 30-year-old Martin had a 3.56 GAA and .883 SV% in 66 career NHL games (24-30-8).
Shesterkin was forced to leave Monday's game after being involved in a collision with Utah's JJ Peterka in the first period. Shesterkin struggled to put weight on his left leg while being helped off the ice and was quickly ruled out for the game. He will miss, at minimum, one week before he is eligible to be activated off of Injured Reserve.
Fox was just activated from LTIR and played only three games, and has been placed on LTIR again, meaning he will be sidelined for at least another month. It's unclear if his current injury is related to his previous injury, but nevertheless, it's a crushing blow for a Rangers team that is currently on the outside of the playoff picture. The 30-year-old Fox has 28 points (4G / 24A) in 30 games this season.
Shesterkin was forced to leave Monday's game after being involved in a collision with Utah's JJ Peterka in the first period. Shesterkin struggled to put weight on his left leg while being helped off the ice and was quickly ruled out for the game. We should receive an update on his status ahead of New York's game against the Sabres on Thursday.
Miller has not played in over two weeks due to an upper-body injury, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. The 32-year-old Miller has a pedestrian 22 points (10G / 22A) in 35 games this season, but was producing at a better rate lately, with eight points (3G / 5A) in his last nine games. If he does not play on Monday against the Utah Mammoth, his next chance to enter the lineup will be on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Shesterkin was sensational in the Winter Classic on Friday, saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers. The 30-year-old goalie has a 2.47 GAA and .912 SV% in 33 games this season (17-12-4), and has been exceptionally good lately, posting a 2.20 GAA and .931 SV% in his last six (4-1-1). The Rangers enter Monday's contest as slight +103 home underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that has lost three of its last four games (1-3-0).
The Rangers will of course turn to Shesterkin between the pipes when they travel to Florida on Friday for the 2026 Winter Classic. The former Vezina Trophy winner was unfortunate to be tagged with the loss in his last start, stopping 32 of the 35 shots he faced in a 3-2 overtime loss in Carolina on Monday. Shesterkin brings a 16-12-4 record and .910 SV% into the Winter Classic, where the Rangers enter action at +120 on the money line.
Laba was on the receiving end of a big hit and exited Wednesday's game. The 22-year-old Laba is in his first NHL season and has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 41 games.
Dowling spent most of 2024-25 season in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, scoring seven points (2G / 5A) in 52 games. That said, the 35-year-old has spent the entirety of 2025-26 in the AHL, scoring 16 points (5G / 11A) in 24 games with Hartford.
Blidh has 85 games of NHL experience, but has only played one game in the past three seasons. The 30-year-old has seven points (3G / 4A) in 28 games with Hartford (AHL).
Laba was on the receiving end of a big hit and exited Wednesday's game. The 22-year-old Laba is in his first NHL season and has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 41 games.
Fox was a full participant in the previous couple of practices for the Rangers and will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old Fox has not played since the end of November. He has 26 points (3G / 23A) in 27 games this season. Scott Morrow was reassigned to Hartford (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Fox was a full participant in the previous couple of practices for the Rangers and should return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old Fox has not played since the end of November. He has 26 points (3G / 23A) in 27 games this season. Scott Morrow was reassigned to Hartford (AHL) in a corresponding move.
With Adam Fox (upper body) activated from LTIR, the Rangers have reassigned Morrow to Hartford (AHL). The 23-year-old Morrow averaged 15:34 time-on-ice and had three assists in 16 games with the Rangers.
Fox was a full participant in practice on Sunday and Tuesday, even skating with the team's top powerplay unit, and could be an option to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old Fox has not played since the end of November. He has 26 points (3G / 23A) in 27 games this season.
Ryan Winterton will draw back into Seattle's lineup on Monday against the Vancovuer Canucks, sending Kartye to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Kartye has six points (2G / 4A) in 34 games this season.
Fox was a full participant in practice on Sunday and even skated with the team's top powerplay unit, but he will remain out of the lineup on Monday. The 27-year-old Fox has not played since the end of November. He has 26 points (3G / 23A) in 27 games this season.
Shesterkin was solid in the Rangers' most recent game, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%), but their offensive woes continued, losing 2-0 to the New York Islanders for their league-worst eighth shutout loss of the season. That said, the 29-year-old Shesterkin has given them a chance on most nights, posting a 2.51 GAA and .910 SV% in 31 games this season (16-12-3). The Rangers enter Monday's contest as +156 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team that snapped a three-game losing skid with a 5-2 win on Saturday over the Detroit Red Wings.
