Islanders, Rangers and Devils have vastly different goaltending situations midway through the season
January 6, 2026
Starting NHL goaltenders in the New York area are in very different positions early in the New Year. The Rangers lost Igor Shesterkin for at least a week to an apparent left leg injury that is still being evaluated. The Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin was spectacular in his return from injury Tuesday night, shutting out New Jersey. The Devils got another rough showing out of Jacob Markstrom, who allowed goals on three of the first five shots he faced and nine of 24 overall. Just past the midway point of the season, the Islanders are a handful of points up in the standings on their local rivals.