NEW YORK (AP) — James Reimer made his New York Rangers debut Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings, less than two weeks after the 38-year-old goaltender agreed to try out for their top minor league affiliate.
Reimer had a 35-save shutout for Hartford of the American Hockey League on Saturday night. The Rangers signed him Sunday and decided to play him immediately to give Dylan Garand a break.
“We’re asking a lot of Dylan,” coach Mike Sullivan said.
“He just had seven starts in a row, and there’s a certain attention, focus that’s required with the goaltending position."
Garand went on waivers before opening night, made it through and was called up days later when backup Joonas Korpisalo got hurt and was listed as week to week. He has had a long, uninterrupted stretch in net since franchise goalie Igor Shesterkin went down with a season-ending injury on Oct. 9 at Washington.
“There’s a physical challenge to it, but there’s also a mental challenge to it,” Sullivan said.
Garand started strong but allowed five goals apiece in each of the past two games, losses at Toronto on Thursday and Ottawa on Saturday. The Rangers do not play again until Sunday, so starting Reimer against the Kings gives Garand a full week to reset.
“We feel, just based on our discussions with our goalie coaches both in Hartford and here that Reims is in a position and he’s ready to go in the net and help us win,” Sullivan said. “He obviously has a significant body of work in the league. He’s been a quality goalie.”
Last season, Reimer signed with the Senators in January when they were beset by injuries. He went 7-4-2 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .886 save percentage to help them make the playoffs.
This was his 493rd career NHL start dating to his debut with the Maple Leafs in 2010.
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