Korpisalo Back on the Ice

Joonas Korpisalo returned to practice Friday after missing time with a foot infection, and the Rangers are calling it a major step toward his season debut. That's the first genuinely good news at the goaltending position in a while.

The context matters. Since Shesterkin went down, the Rangers have been improvising — Dylan Garand recalled from Hartford, James Reimer signed and handed a start against the Kings. It has been a workable arrangement, not a comfortable one. A 6-3 loss to Los Angeles last week was a reminder of how thin the margin is without a proven starter in net.

Korpisalo was listed as the top goaltender on the depth chart coming into the season, so getting him back would restore something close to the plan the Rangers drew up before things unraveled. He hasn't played yet, so there's no telling what shape he's in after the infection. But practice is practice, and being on the ice is the necessary first step.

No debut date has been confirmed. For now, it's enough to note that the situation looks less dire than it did four days ago.