Igor Shesterkin is "very, very close’’ to returning to action for the Rangers, according to acting coach Kris Knoblauch. That could mean the goaltender might be back in net on Thursday, when the Rangers visit Philadelphia to take on the Flyers in the opener of a two-game set that concludes Saturday afternoon.
Shesterkin, 25, has been out since suffering a groin injury March 4 in New Jersey, near the end of a 6-1 victory over the Devils. In the 10 games he missed, the Rangers went 5-4-1, with Alexandar Georgiev and Keith Kinkaid each starting five games.
It was enough to keep the Rangers in the hunt for a playoff spot — they are four points behind fourth-place Boston in the East Division with 25 games to go — but now it appears the time has come for the Rangers to deal with the always-uncomfortable three-goalie situation they now have.