Rangers' Igor Shesterkin Will Miss Fifth Straight Game

New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin will miss his fifth straight game with a groin injury Saturday.

The injury is classified as "mild" and was suffered during a March 4 game against the New Jersey Devils. Shesterkin is still listed as "day-to-day" after having to be helped off the ice and into the locker room at the Prudential Center last week.

While in the Edmonton bubble for the playoffs last year, Shesterkin suffered a similar groin strain in a tune-up match against the New York Islanders in late July. The team originally thought it wouldn't hurt his chance of playing in the playoffs last year. Still, after reinjuring it in practice, Shesterkin missed the Rangers play-in series's first two games versus the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Rangers were swept in the best-of-five series 3-0.

Keith Kincaid will make his fourth start of the year Saturday afternoon versus the Boston Bruins. Kincaid was signed this offseason by the Rangers to a two-year $1.65 million contract that sees him earn $825,000 a year. He has been practicing with the taxi squad for most of this season.

The Rangers are 1-3 without Shesterkin, with the net being shared during that time between Kincaid and Alexandar Georgiev.

Last Sunday, in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Georgiev started the game with Kincaid coming in in relief. Georgiev was pulled after allowing three goals in six shots. Kincaid fared only slightly better, letting in two on 18 shots against.

On Tuesday, Kincaid posted a .855 save percentage, allowing three goals on 26 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Pens. Sidney Crosby added the empty netter with just over 30 seconds remaining.

Georgiev started again against the Bruins on Thursday but was pulled in the second period after allowing four goals on 14 shots. Kincaid came in once again in relief, stopping all 13 shots he faced in what ended up being a 4-0 shutout loss.

The Rangers need Shesterkin back if they want to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. Tonight's game versus the Bruins is an important one, as they remain nine points behind them for fourth place and the last remaining postseason berth in the MassMutual East.