On Thursday night in New York, Igor Shesterkin made history as the first goaltender for the Rangers to score a goal, launching the puck the full length of the ice into an empty net during a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. This achievement came less than a year after the team struggled to score in their first three home games last season, but this time they started strong, with Mika Zibanejad opening the scoring early in their Madison Square Garden debut.
In addition to Zibanejad’s goal, Pavel Dorofeyev and Eeli Tolvanen each netted their first goals with the Rangers, and prospect-turned-regular Gabe Perreault tipped in a shot from top defenseman Adam Fox. Shesterkin’s goal, scored with just over two and a half minutes remaining, made him only the 18th goaltender in NHL history to find the net, and the 21st such event including playoff contests. This marked a significant turnaround from MSG’s nightmare start in October 2025, when the Rangers were shut out in their first three home games of the season—something no other league team had ever experienced.
The game’s momentum was evident early, as the Rangers, coming off a 3-0 loss to Boston on Tuesday, attacked aggressively from the start. A power-play goal by Zibanejad helped them jump ahead. They went on to score four goals on 24 shots against the stellar goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, with Shesterkin stopping 24 of 25 shots and earning chants of “Igor’s better!” The only goal conceded was off Nikita Kucherov’s skate, which deflected in off Noah Laba. Cheers for Shesterkin echoed through the arena following his historic goal.
Fan Take: Shesterkin’s unusual scoring feat isn’t just a fun highlight—it underscores his exceptional talent and versatility, boosting team confidence and inspiring fans. Moments like this remind us why hockey’s unpredictability and the emergence of standout players keep the sport exciting and engaging for fans everywhere.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
