Full Breakdown
Igor Shesterkin’s Historic Goalie Goal Caps Rangers’ Home Opener
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Core Event: Goalie Goal Seals 5-1 Win over Tampa Bay
On Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin shot the puck the length of the ice into an empty net with 2:34 remaining in the third period, giving the Rangers a 5-1 lead and the eventual victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The goal was recorded at the 17:26 mark of the period. Shesterkin’s shot came after Lightning coach Jon Cooper pulled goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for an extra attacker.
Background & Context: Rarity of Goalie Goals
Scoring a goal is an exceedingly rare feat for a net-minder. Shesterkin became the 18th goaltender in NHL history to be credited with a goal and the 21st goalie-goal overall, according to NHL.com. It marked the first time any Rangers goaltender had done so in the franchise’s history dating back to its 1926 inception. The previous NHL goalie-goal had been recorded by New York Islanders net-minder Ilya Sorokin on March 1, 2025.
Data & Statistics
- Shots faced / saves: Sources differ; ESPN and CBC report Shesterkin stopped 24 of 25 shots, while Newsweek notes 23 of 24.
- Save percentage for the game: Approximately .960 (24/25) or .958 (23/24) depending on the source.
- Goal timing: 17:26 of the third period (2:34 left on the clock).
- Career milestones: The win was Shesterkin’s 100th victory at Madison Square Garden, making him the fourth-fastest Ranger goaltender to reach that mark.
Official Statements & Responses
Winger Pavel Dorofeyev praised Shesterkin, noting that the goalie had long expressed a desire to score and that the goal “adds a new dimension” to his game. Center Mika Zibanejad recalled the many times he imagined the puck going in, saying the goal was “great” after “so many chances.” Lightning coach Jon Cooper acknowledged that pulling Vasilevskiy created the opportunity, noting the risk of an empty-net goal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That was a lot of fun, but to be honest, someone on the blue line, he screened me a little bit when I make the shot and I didn’t see the puck land, so I didn’t know can I celebrate or not,” — Igor Shesterkin
- “I didn't see the puck go across the line,” — Igor Shesterkin
- “With the amount of chances he's had to do that, and now finally get it, that was great.” — Coach Mike Sullivan
- “When those moments occur for a team, they're great moments. You could see the raw emotion from the players on the bench,” — Mike Sullivan, coach
- “I told everyone I would keep trying to score and I did,” — Igor Shesterkin
- “When those moments occur for a team, they’re great moments,” — Mike Sullivan, coach