Rangers' Shesterkin placed in COVID-19 protocol

The New York Rangers placed goaltender Igor Shesterkin in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Thursday.

The club recalled netminder Keith Kinkaid from the taxi squad in a corresponding move to join Alexandar Georgiev on the active roster.

Shesterkin joins Artemi Panarin in the protocol, but the latter is expected to rejoin the team when it takes on the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post. Panarin won't play versus the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

Shesterkin has been one of the league's best goaltenders so far this season, tallying a 15-4-3 record with a .936 save percentage and 2.09 goals against average.