Is Igor Shesterkin playing tonight against New Jersey Devils? Rangers make injury decision on $92M goalie’s return

Igor Shesterkin, perhaps the most acclaimed goalie in hockey, has been out on Injured Reserve since Dec. 31. He suffered an upper-body injury that has kept him off the ice for the last four contests.

The Rangers have struggled this year even with Shesterkin, but they went 2-2 and gave up an average of 3.75 goals per game without him. That includes allowing seven to the Washington Capitals and five to the Dallas Stars.

Fortunately, Shesterkin's absence was not as long as it could've been. The goalie, who is on a $92 million contract, will officially be back on the ice against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

The Devils have been one of the best teams in the NHL this year, and they've scored 137 goals in 43 games. They have a potent offense, so Shesterkin will have his work cut out for him.

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Rangers GM on what Igor Shesterkin brings to the Rangers

Before Igor Shesterkin went down, he signed an extension with the New York Rangers. He had been in the midst of a contract dispute with the team, but they eventually made him the highest-paid goalie in hockey history.

A few weeks later, he went down. That helped prove his value, but GM Chris Drury said at the time via NHL:

“We’re lucky to have him. We’re excited that he wanted to make the commitment to be with the Rangers for eight years. We’re excited to be able to sign him up for that. We had no interest in seeing where the market went come July 1."

Drury called Shesterkin one of the Rangers' best players night in and night out.