In the aftermath of the worst begin of Dylan Garand’s NHL profession, the Rangers didn’t blame the rookie goaltender who’s been thrust into the beginning position after accidents to Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo.
It still added a disappointing twist to what otherwise had been a promising — and historic — begin to his NHL profession. Garand allowed 4 objectives on 14 pictures, including two in 31 seconds to finish his evening, before getting pulled in favor of Spencer Martin in the Blueshirts’ 7-1 loss to the Devils. Garand entered the evening with a 1.15 objectives against common and a .951 save proportion 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 level has been a whirlwind, as he was lower in coaching camp, positioned on waivers, despatched to AHL Hartford after clearing and then introduced back up before the Rangers’ second recreation of the season once Korpisalo sustained a lower-body damage. Then, when Shesterkin’s season ended last Friday with a proper knee damage, Garand grew to become the starter — and proceeded to win his first two begins to give the Blueshirts hope of surviving with out their franchise goaltender.
But Garand, for all the potential he has flashed, only has seven begins and eight appearances on his ledger with large skates to fill. He stopped Jack Hughes in the first interval, but everything unraveled after Evan Rodrigues beat him off a J.T. Miller turnover close to the finish of the first interval and Luke Hughes’ shot deflected off Adam Fox’s skate and in at the begin of the second.
Nico Hischier (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a aim against Dylan
Garand during the second interval of the Rangers’ 7-1 blowout loss to the Devils on
Oct. 15, 2026 at Prudential Center in Newark. Noah Ok. Murray for New York Post
“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 group in the wake of Shesterkin’s season-ending damage and Korpisalo’s presence on long-term injured reserve.
James Reimer, the 38-year-old who has performed in 539 profession NHL video games, signed a skilled tryout settlement with AHL Hartford, the Wolf Pack announced Thursday. Reimer can play in up to 25 video games before they’d want to make a call on his future, and Hartford’s depth has been thinned with Garand and Martin — who started the season as the Blueshirts’ prime two AHL choices — 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 4 weeks.
Reimer hasn’t began more than 25 video games in a season at the NHL stage since 2022-23, and last yr, he appeared in 14 with the Senators — including 13 begins — while posting a 7-4-2 report, an .886 save proportion and a 2.42 objectives against common.
Alexis Lafrenière was given a recreation misconduct late in the third interval 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.
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