New York Rangers Secure Victory with Historic Goal by Igor Shesterkin

Following a challenging 3-0 defeat to the Boston Bruins in their season opener, the New York Rangers rebounded effectively by securing a 5-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

The Rangers delivered a formidable team effort in their matchup with the Lightning. Igor Shesterkin, their standout goalie, was particularly notable, successfully stopping 23 out of the 24 shots he faced.

In a remarkable highlight of the game, Shesterkin scored a rare goalie goal at the 17:26 mark of the third period, extending New York’s lead to 5-1. Taking advantage of a turnover with the Lightning’s net empty, he fired the puck from the Rangers’ crease all the way into Tampa Bay’s net.

This achievement marks the first time in Shesterkin’s NHL career that he has scored a goalie goal, making him the inaugural goalie in Rangers history to net a goal. This moment was a significant milestone for the historic Original Six franchise.

Shesterkin becomes the 18th goalie in NHL history to score a goal. The prior occurrence was by New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin, who scored against the Nashville Predators on March 1, 2025.

Shesterkin’s noteworthy start this season includes a .935 save percentage and a 1.51 goals-against average after his initial two appearances, setting high expectations for his performance post this historic goal.