Igor Shesterkin's injury news could reshape the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers matchup Saturday.

The scary moment happened Monday against the Utah Mammoth, when Shesterkin went down after a collision and needed help leaving the ice. He couldn't put weight on his leg, and it instantly felt serious.

Igor Shesterkin needed assistance off the ice following a collision with JJ Peterka

By Tuesday, the situation was official, Shesterkin has a lower-body injury and is headed to injured reserve. That means he must miss at least seven days, and the Bruins won't be seeing him Saturday.

Word is #NYR Igor Shesterkin (lower-body) is going on IR. Adam Fox is also going back on LTIR and will be reevaluated when he is eligible to come off.

That's a massive loss for the Rangers because Shesterkin has carried real weight this season, with a 17-12-4 record, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.45 goals-against average.

For Boston, it drops into the schedule at the perfect time. The Bruins are 22-19-2 and can't keep donating points in a tight Atlantic race, so any edge matters when the Rangers come to TD Garden Saturday.

New York now leans on Jonathan Quick, with Spencer Martin recalled for support, and that likely changes the Rangers' risk tolerance. When your starter goes down, teams usually tighten their neutral-zone game and protect the slot first.

Igor Shesterkin injury news to affect upcoming game

As a Bruins fan, I'm not celebrating it, but I'm absolutely noting the opening it creates.

Boston has to treat this like a chance to simplify and swarm, pucks on net, second chances, and bodies at the top of the crease. If Quick starts, rebounds, and screens become the whole night.

It also matters that the Rangers are banged up elsewhere, with Adam Fox reportedly headed back to LTIR. If New York is missing its top puck-mover too, Boston's forecheck can tilt the ice and force rushed clears.

None of this guarantees anything, because the Bruins have their own consistency issues and the Rangers still have firepower.