Shesterkin sustained a lower-body injury in the third period of a 1-0 win against the San Jose Sharks on Friday. He went down on his stomach in the crease during a scramble for the puck and couldn't get up under his own power. He did not put weight on his right leg when being helped off the ice.
"Every team loses players, and star players, but we think it's a week and he'll be back ready to go," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "[Alexandar Georgiev] went in last night and did a great job and now he gets an opportunity. I think it works out fine."
Shesterkin, who made 19 saves before being replaced by Georgiev (nine saves) with 14:52 left, is 13-3-2 with a 2.05 GAA and .937 save percentage in 18 games this season (17 starts), including 8-1-0 with a 1.76 GAA and .945 save percentage (14 goals allowed on 256 shots) in nine games since Nov. 8.
Among goalies with at least 10 NHL games this season, Shesterkin is third in save percentage behind Jack Campbell of the Toronto Maple Leafs (.942) and Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames (.939). Shesterkin is tied for fourth in GAA.
"[Shesterkin has] played a lot of good games for us," Gallant said. "We plan on it being seven days and then he's back to go. Rest won't hurt him. 'Georgie' has played really well. We're looking forward to him going back in the net tonight. It's not a concern. We're going to play."
Georgiev started and made 25 saves in a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Gallant didn't say if he would start the next two games, at the Blackhawks on Tuesday or at home against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The Rangers also play at the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
Shesterkin would be eligible to return and play Sunday, Dec. 12 against the Nashville Predators.
"For me, I'm confident in the kid," Gallant said. "Shesterkin has played unbelievable hockey for the first 20-some games and Georgie hasn't had a whole lot of chances. But, again, I'm confident. Last night he went in the net and did a great job, and I expect the same tonight. But obviously confidence goes a long way for goaltenders for sure.
"It's his job to be sharp and be ready to go. He's worked hard in practice and now he gets the opportunity, and like anybody else you hope he takes advantage of it. It's a bigger role obviously, but go play. Have fun, go play and win some hockey games. That's what we're trying to do as a team."
Goalie Adam Huska was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League and will back up Georgiev. Huska was 2-3-1 with a 2.20 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in six AHL games this season. The 24-year-old has yet to make his NHL debut.
"I think we've grown a lot in the last year or two and we're able to handle these things no matter who goes down," Rangers forward Ryan Strome said after the win Friday. "We've had a ton of games where we've played with 11 forwards because guys get hurt or whatever. I think guys responded well on the bench, just tightened up and made sure we helped him out."
Georgiev, who is 3-1-1 in eight games with a 3.58 GAA and .876 save percentage, hadn't played since allowing four goals on 18 shots in two periods against the Sabres on Nov. 21. Shesterkin relieved him for the third period and the Rangers won 5-4.
"He's a good goaltender and he's been waiting for an opportunity," Strome said of Georgiev. "He went in there and finished her off and he'll probably get in there tomorrow. That's what good teams do, next man up. It was a good example of that tonight."
NHL senior writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report
