Rangers injury update: Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin sidelined, J.T. Miller likely to return against Sabres

The New York Rangers head into Thursday night’s matchup against the Buffalo Sabres facing a familiar test of staying competitive while key pillars are missing. Injuries to Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin have reshaped the lineup and raised questions about how long the team can hold its ground in a tight Eastern Conference race.There is some balance, though. J.T. Miller is expected to return after missing seven games, offering an immediate boost to a roster suddenly short on stability and star power. Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin both suffered lower-body injuries during Monday’s overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden, leaving the Rangers without arguably their two most indispensable players. Fox was placed on long-term injured reserve and must miss at least 10 games and 24 days, making him ineligible to return before Jan. 31. Even then, coach Mike Sullivan stopped short of guaranteeing his availability. Shesterkin, injured earlier in the same game, was placed on injured reserve with no clear timetable.The absence of Fox is not new territory for New York. This marks his second LTIR stint in just over five weeks. During the previous stretch without him, the Rangers went 6-5-3, struggled offensively, and saw their power play efficiency dip sharply. The contrast was stark when Fox briefly returned, as New York scored freely and moved the puck with far more pace and precision.Vladislav Gavrikov will get the first opportunity to run the top power-play unit alongside Vincent Trocheck, Miller, Mika Zibanejad, and Artemi Panarin. It is a different look, but one the coaching staff believes can function without forcing Gavrikov to play outside his strengths. Simplicity and decision-making, rather than replication of Fox’s elite skill set, will be the focus.In goal, Jonathan Quick is set to start against Buffalo and is expected to shoulder most of the workload while Shesterkin is sidelined. Despite a modest win-loss record, Quick’s underlying numbers have been strong, and his relief appearance Monday offered reassurance inside the room. Spencer Martin has been recalled from Hartford to provide depth, while Scott Morrow steps in on defense.Miller’s return adds a much-needed offensive boost and edge. He has 22 points in 35 games and remains a central piece of New York’s forward group. The Rangers sit seventh in the Metropolitan Division, just three points out of a wild-card spot, leaving little margin for drift.Without Fox and Shesterkin, details will matter more. Structure, discipline, and collective effort will decide whether the Rangers can stay in the playoff picture until their lineup is whole again.Also Read: New York Rangers injury crisis deepens as Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox are sidelined in upcoming games