What happened: The New York Rangers placed goaltender Igor Shesterkin on long-term injured reserve on Saturday. The procedural transaction creates immediate roster flexibility for the club.

Why it matters: Although Shesterkin is ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, New York opted against using the season-ending designation immediately. The front office can shift him to the season-ending list later to maximize cap relief, a strategy previously utilized by Dallas with Tyler Seguin.

What to watch: The New York Rangers are scheduled to play the Vancouver Canucks.