Igor Shesterkin Goalie Goal Makes Rangers History
Igor Shesterkin‘s goalie goal made New York Rangers history on October 1. He became the first Rangers goaltender to score, helping New York defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 at Madison Square Garden. With Tampa Bay’s net empty late in the third period, Shesterkin sent the puck down the ice and watched it find the open net. The unassisted goal made him the first goaltender in Rangers history to score.
Igor Shesterkin Goalie Goal Makes NHL History
It was a rare moment across the NHL. According to NHL.com’s game recap, Shesterkin became the 18th goaltender in league history to score. The Igor Shesterkin goalie goal was the 21st scored by an NHL goaltender. Only a handful of netminders have scored more than once.
The previous NHL goalie credited with a goal was Ilya Sorokin on March 1, 2025. It came 19 months before Shesterkin’s goal. A Nashville Predators player accidentally sent the puck into his own net. The previous goalie to shoot the puck into the opposing net himself was Alex Nedeljkovic on January 18, 2025. Shesterkin did not have a clear view of his goal. As reported by Daily Faceoff, a player screened his sightline. He was initially unsure whether the puck had gone in. Former NHL goalie Carter Hutton also discussed the goal on Daily Faceoff LIVE. Hutton noted Shesterkin’s puck-handling ability and his willingness to try plays like this.
Another Milestone for Shesterkin
Shesterkin was busy doing his usual job at the other end, too. He made 24 saves against the Lightning. The win also gave him his 100th career victory at Madison Square Garden. It was a second milestone on the same night.
For the Rangers, the goalie goal is the moment that will endure. The franchise has had generations of standout netminders. None had previously put a puck into the opposing net. Shesterkin changed that with one shot from his own end of the rink. Shesterkin’s historic goal was one of several notable Rangers milestones that week. A few days later, Alexis Lafrenière recorded his third career NHL hat trick in a 5–2 victory over the New York Islanders.
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