Rangers turn to third-string goaltender with starter and backup banged up.
Rangers turn to third-string goaltender with starter and backup banged up.
Tarrytown, New York: Peter Laviolette confirmed this morning that Louis Domingue will start in net tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Igor Shteserkin and Jonathan Quick are still dealing with day-to-day injuries.
The Rangers are currently 9-2-1, with Shesterkin starting in 8 games and Quick starting in 4.
It will be Louis Domingue's debut with the team after signing a 2-year contract with the organization in July 2022.
Domingue will have his first opportunity with the big club. In 45 games in 2022-2023, he posted a 22-12-8 record, .911 SV%, and 2.51 GAA. In 4 appearances this year he is 3-1-0 with a 1.75 GAA and a .934 SV%.
Following today's morning skate, he talked about how this game is different for him, "I've played in the NHL for 8 years, last year I didn't get a game so it's been a while. It's going to feel a little newer but the games the same as it's played down [in Hartford]."
The 31-year-old goaltender resides in central Connecticut, so his recent call-up is a change for his family, "To be quite honest it's harder because I have to leave my kids. It's been harder to spend time with my family. They won't be there because my kids have school but I know my son is going be closely watching."
Domingue talked about playing at Madison Square Garden which has sold out all 18,006 seats in the four Ranger home games this season. "It was fun when I was on the road, [it's] one of the buildings that I love playing in."
In the 2022 ECQF, he played against the Rangers as a third-string keeper for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now he's suiting up for New York in the same position, "It's going to be nice to play for the home crowd this time around. It was pretty hard when we were in the playoffs and they were against me, so it's nice to have them on my side."
The last time the club turned to a third-string netminder was on December 15th, 2021 when Keith Kinkaid played in net against the Arizona Coyotes. He is the first starting right-catching goaltender to play in a game for the Rangers since Glen Hanlon (NYR from 1982-1986).
Domingue gets the nod as the Rangers take on the Minnesota Wild tonight at 7:00 PM (EST).
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