Igor Shesterkin Scores Historic Goalie Goal as Rangers Rout Lightning 5-1

Igor Shesterkin has spent seven seasons launching pucks at empty nets, watching them drift wide or get intercepted at the opposing blue line. On Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers goaltender finally found the target in spectacular fashion.[1][2]

With 2:34 remaining in regulation against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Shesterkin collected a loose puck near his crease and fired a high, straight shot down the ice. It landed perfectly, bouncing into the vacated net to seal a 5-1 season-opening victory.[1][4]

"I didn't see the puck land so I didn't know can I celebrate or not," Shesterkin said. "Everyone started jumping on me. Unbelievable feelings."[2]

The shot etched Shesterkin into the history books as the 18th goaltender in NHL history to score a goal, and the first ever to do it for the Rangers franchise. It marked the 21st goalie goal in league history, including the playoffs.[1][2]

The Madison Square Garden crowd erupted into deafening chants of "Igor! Igor!" as the 30-year-old Russian netminder led a parade of fist-bumps down the Rangers bench. The milestone came in his 177th career home game, securing his 100th victory on Garden ice.[2][5]

"I feel like probably a dozen times I've been on the bench thinking, 'OK, this one goes in,' and he barely misses," Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said. "Just seeing this one go in... it was great."[1][2]

Shesterkin's empty-netter was the exclamation point on a dominant performance at both ends of the rink. He stopped 24 of 25 shots from a potent Lightning offense, surrendering his only goal to reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov in the second period.[1][4]

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan noted that Shesterkin's puck-handling has always been a weapon. Sullivan said he knew the shot had a chance to go in the moment it reached the peak of its trajectory near center ice.[2][5]

"When those moments occur for a team, they are great moments," Sullivan said. "You can see the raw emotion on the players on the bench. Shesty, he's such a great goalie."[5]

Before Shesterkin stole the show, New York's offense systematically dismantled two-time Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy. Zibanejad opened the scoring on a power play just six minutes into the first period, setting a relentless tone for the night.[2][3]

Newcomers Pavel Dorofeyev and Eeli Tolvanen both found the back of the net to extend the Rangers' lead to 3-0 early in the second frame. Tolvanen's goal deflected off Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous, leaving Vasilevskiy with no chance to react.[2][4]

Kucherov briefly gave Tampa Bay life, finishing a backhanded pass that banked in off Rangers center Noah Laba to make it 3-1. However, Gabe Perreault quickly restored the three-goal cushion with a redirection late in the middle period.[2]

Tampa Bay pushed desperately in the third, pulling Vasilevskiy twice to create a 6-on-4 advantage during a late power play. The Rangers' penalty kill held firm, limiting the Lightning to just six shots in the final frame and setting the stage for Shesterkin's heroics.[2]

Shesterkin becomes the first NHL goaltender to score since his close friend, New York Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin, was credited with a goal last season. He is also just the second Russian-born goalie to achieve the feat, joining San Jose Sharks legend Evgeni Nabokov.[1][6]

The goal also completed a career "Gordie Howe hat trick" for Shesterkin. The goaltender previously recorded three career assists and famously dropped the gloves for a fight against Jacob Markstrom last March, checking off every box on the unconventional hockey milestone.[6]

With the home opener secured and a career-long ambition fulfilled, Shesterkin joked that he might need to work on his post-goal routine. The Vezina winner promised he isn't done shooting, warning opponents that he plans to try for another one soon.[2][5]