A day following their first victory in five games, the New York Rangers loaned Joonas Korpisalo to the Hartford Wolf Pack for a conditioning stint that’ll begin tonight against the Hershey Bears.

Acquired in the offseason from the Boston Bruins, Korpisalo was expected to serve as the Rangers backup goalie behind starter Igor Shesterkin. However, plans dramatically changed when Shesterkin suffered a season ending right knee injury against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 9.

Korpisalo didn’t start the season on time due to a foot infection that’s kept him out of action for five weeks. While he’s been sidelined, the Rangers have been forced to rely on rookie Dylan Garand in the net. As expected, he’s been up and down due to the much heavier workload in the NHL. After permitting 13 goals in his previous three starts, he was superb in making 32 saves in a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Due to the sudden lack of goaltending depth, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury signed free agent goalie James Reimer as insurance. In his only start against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 26, he allowed three goals on eight shots in the first period before Garand replaced him in what amounted to a 6-3 loss.

Since then, Reimer’s served as the backup. With the Philadelphia Flyers in town to visit Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, there’s little doubt that will be the case again with Garand set to make his 11th start in 12 games. He gives the Rangers the best chance to win for the time being.

With Korpisalo finally ready to play his first game for the Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League, that’ll hopefully go well enough for him to return in time for a tough four-game Northwestern swing that begins against the Seattle Kraken this Saturday. The road trip will also include a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 9, the Calgary Flames Nov. 11, and conclude at the Vancouver Canucks Nov. 13.

A Road Unkind

So far, the road has been unkind for the Rangers. The last time they were away from MSG, the Rangers suffered ugly defeats to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. They allowed 12 goals in the two losses with Garand in for each. The defensive structure broke down, leaving Garand exposed.

The Blueshirts have only won once in seven away games. That came back on Oct. 2 when Garand recorded his first shutout in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He finished with 22 saves to pick up his first win of the season.

That feels like a lifetime ago with the Rangers’ goaltending situation entirely different. They’re hoping the more experienced Korpisalo can help lessen the pressure on Garand, who’s done about as good a job as could’ve been asked. He’s 5-6-1 with a 2.57 goals-against-average and .905 save percentage.

We’ll see how things go for Korpisalo on Wednesday night