Shesterkin injured as Capitals beat Rangers: Metropolitan Division roundup

The Metropolitan Division’s Friday night was defined by a concerning injury to Igor Shesterkin in Washington and a shootout win for Columbus over Pittsburgh as divisional play ramps up.

Capitals top Rangers 3-1 as Shesterkin exits injured

In Washington, the Capitals beat the New York Rangers 3-1. Sportsnet reports that Boone Jenner’s second-period goal stood up as the winner, with Tom Wilson also scoring and Logan Thompson making 21 saves in the victory. According to Sportsnet, Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin had to be helped off the ice after being injured, while Daily Faceoff describes it as a lower-body injury. Daily Faceoff notes that Shesterkin entered the night at 3-1-0 with a .926 save percentage and 1.75 goals-against average. Despite the loss, the Rangers remain atop the Metropolitan with 8 points through 6 games, one point ahead of Carolina, while the Capitals’ win lifts them to third with 6 points in 4 outings.

Johnson wins it in SO, Severson returns for Blue Jackets

In Columbus, the Blue Jackets edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout. La Presse and Sportsnet both highlight Kent Johnson as the only scorer in the tiebreaker. Sportsnet adds that Damon Severson had a goal and an assist and Cole Sillinger chipped in two helpers. Daily Faceoff had noted earlier that this game marked Severson’s season debut after a shoulder injury in March. The victory pushes Columbus to fifth in the division with 4 points in 3 games, just behind Pittsburgh, which sits fourth with 5 points in 5 contests.

Penguins tweak roster, Hurricanes’ goalie spotlight, Flyers and Islanders notes

Daily Faceoff reports that the Penguins placed defenceman Ilya Solovyov on waivers after he had yet to appear in a game, suggesting Pittsburgh may be opening a roster spot. The Hockey Writers also points back to the recent trade that sent Spencer Stastney to the Penguins in exchange for Filip Hallander, underscoring ongoing blue-line shuffling in Pittsburgh.

In Carolina, The Hockey Writers writes that goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov is showing signs of reaching another level after what it describes as a 2025–26 season of missed opportunities. In a separate rumours piece, the same outlet suggests defenceman Alexander Nikishin may be losing some leverage in his situation, without detailing an immediate impact.

Elsewhere, The Hockey Writers revisits the Philadelphia Flyers’ 2021 trade of Shayne Gostisbehere, while Daily Faceoff notes that Ottawa forward William Eklund is out indefinitely with an ankle injury after a game against the Flyers. For the New York Islanders, Daily Faceoff reports that Chicago’s Frank Nazar will have a hearing for an illegal check to the head on Bo Horvat. The New Jersey Devils stayed out of the headlines over the last 24 hours and sit seventh in the Metro with 2 points in 3 games, ahead of only the Flyers, who are last with 2 points in 5.