The New York Rangers lost a game Friday night, and they may have lost their star goalie for a while.

Igor Shesterkin was helped off the ice with a lower-body injury in the second period of a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, NHL.com reported. He did not return.

The injury happened at 8:20 of the period, with Washington on a power play. Shesterkin scrambled back to his net, and his right skate appeared to jam into the post. His right leg then bent awkwardly under him as he fell.

He stayed down while a trainer checked on him. Teammates Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson helped him off without letting him put any weight on his right leg.

"Well, it's concerning, obviously," Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. "He's an elite goaltender." Captain J.T. Miller called it "a shock to all of us."

Shesterkin, 30, won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in 2021-22. He had stopped 13 of 14 shots before leaving. Dylan Garand replaced him and made 11 saves. The Rangers are already without backup Joonas Korpisalo, who is out week to week.

Before Friday, Shesterkin was 3-1-0 this season with a .926 save percentage. He even scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 1.

For Washington, Boone Jenner scored his first goal for the Capitals in the second period, ESPN reported. The AP said the Capitals pulled away after Shesterkin left.

Garand, 24, was called up from the minors on Oct. 1. He has a 1.31 goals-against average in five career NHL games.

What we know: Shesterkin hurt his right leg and did not return.
What we don't: how serious the injury is or how long he will be out.