James Reimer had a brief debut with the New York Rangers on Monday night, lasting just one period. The 38-year-old was pulled after giving up three goals on eight shots against Los Angeles. Dylan Garand replaced Reimer to make a ninth appearance in as many games.
Making his 493rd career regular season NHL start, dating to his debut with Toronto in 2010, Reimer allowed goals to Trevor Ward and Brandt Clarke on the first two Kings shots he faced. Drew Doughty made it three, and Erik Haula clanked a shot off the post with 70 seconds left before intermission.
Reimer was fast-tracked to give Garand a respite. Garand had started every game since franchise goalie Igor Shesterkin went down with a season-ending injury on Oct. 9 at Washington. "We're asking a lot of Dylan," coach Mike Sullivan said after his team's morning skate. "He just had seven starts in a row, and there's a certain attention, focus that's required with the goaltending position."
Reimer signed a professional tryout agreement with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on Oct. 15 and posted a 35-save shutout for them on Saturday night. The Rangers signed him Sunday and decided to play him immediately. Sullivan said the team's goalie coaches in Hartford and New York believed Reimer was ready to help them win. Garand, who allowed five goals in each of the past two games, has been under pressure since taking over as the No. 1 goalie. The Rangers do not play again until Sunday.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing