Latest on Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox's Timelines to Return to Rangers After Injuries

The New York Rangers will spend at least the next week without either star goaltender Igor Shesterkin or top defender Adam Fox.

Shesterkin is being placed on injured reserve after suffering an apparent lower body injury during a Monday night loss to the Utah Mammoth, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported Tuesday.

Kaplan reported the "worst case scenario with Igor Shesterkin was avoided," although she noted the goaltender "will continue to be evaluated."

Fox will meanwhile be placed on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury, per The Athletic's Vince Z. Mercogliano.

The Rangers defenseman had returned last week from a 14-game LTIR stint due to a shoulder injury.

Shesterkin's injury occurred with seven minutes remaining in the first period of Monday's overtime loss. He had to be helped off the ice after an awkward fall following contact with the Mammoth's JJ Peterka in the crease.

Fox finished his last shift with just under one minute left in regulation of the tied game Monday night.

He didn't skate in overtime, although the Rangers only had time to ice the trio of Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Vladislav Gavrikov before the Mammoth scored to end the game.

Fox ultimately recorded 23:30 on the ice in his third game back. Another LTIR designation means he is expected to miss at least 24 days and 10 more games.

Shesterkin will meanwhile be sidelined for a minimum of seven days, setting him on track to miss at least three games.

The goaltender is currently tied for second in the NHL this season with 17 wins despite playing in front of one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league.

The Rangers are averaging just 2.59 goals per game so far this season, good for 31st in the NHL, and they've been shut out eight times in 44 games.

Jonathan Quick will be tasked with taking over in net until Shesterkin returns. The Rangers will likely need more offense from players like Zibanejad and Panarin in order to succeed with their top goaltender and defenseman both missing.

The Rangers are heading into the week with a 20-18-6 record that has the team sitting three points back of a Wild Card spot in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff picture. Quick is likely to start when the team returns to action Thursday against the visiting Buffalo Sabres.