The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-rangers/line-combinations">New York Rangers</a> will have a boost Thursday versus the Metropolitan Division rival <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-jersey-devils/line-combinations">New Jersey Devils</a> as star netminder Igor Shesterkin is set to return the lineup, head coach Peter Laviolette confirmed to <a href="https://x.com/NYP_Brooksie/status/1877382388692529612">Larry Brooks of the New York Post</a>.



Shesterkin has been sidelined for the past four games with a lower-body injury, a stretch in which the Rangers went 2-1-1, but allowed 15 goals against. On the season, Shesterkin has made 27 appearances, coming up with an 11-15-1 record alongside a .906 save percentage and 3.10 goals-against average.



In December, the 29-year-old Russian-born goaltender inked an eight-year extension with New York that carries an $11.5-million annual average value, per <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/igor-shesterkin">PuckPedia</a>.



A fourth-round selection by the Rangers in the 2014 NHL Draft, Shesterkin has seen 240 career contests with New York in which he has posted a record of 146-74-18 with a .919 save percentage and 2.50 goals-against average. At the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign, Shesterkin was recognized with the Vezina Trophy after he found the win column 36 times in only 53 outings while putting up a .935 save percentage and 2.07 goals-against average.<div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="187"></div>



In addition to Shesterkin, Thursday’s contest will mark the debut of right winger Arthur Kaliyev, who was claimed off waivers from the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/los-angeles-kings/line-combinations">Los Angeles Kings</a> on Monday. The 23-year-old Uzbekistan-born, Staten Island, N.Y., raised native has yet to make an NHL appearance this season after suffering a collarbone injury in training camp with the Kings. Rangers center Matt Rempe will also re-enter the lineup Thursday after <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/new-york-rangers-matt-rempe-marked-man-return-suspension">serving an eight-game suspension</a> for elbowing <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/dallas-stars/line-combinations">Dallas Stars</a> defenseman Miro Heiskanen.



Standing 18-20-2 on the season, the Rangers sit four points back of the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/columbus-blue-jackets/line-combinations">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> for the second wildcard position in the Eastern Conference, one year after claiming the Presidents’ Trophy for achieving the NHL’s best regular season record.