Igor Shesterkin Makes Rangers History With First Goalie Goal

The New York Rangers needed a response after opening their season with a shutout loss. They got one from the most unlikely scorer on the roster: Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin sent the puck the length of the ice into Tampa Bay’s empty net late in the third period, becoming the first goaltender to score in the Rangers’ century-long history. The milestone capped a 5–1 win in New York’s home opener on Thursday, October 1. He also stopped 24 shots.

A rare goal with a useful finish

Shesterkin’s first NHL goal made him the 18th different goaltender to score; it was the 21st goalie goal overall when playoff goals are included. It arrived with New York already in control, but turned a strong home opener into a moment fans will remember beyond the standings point.

The Rangers’ skaters built the cushion. Mika Zibanejad opened the scoring on the power play, Pavel Dorofeyev added his first goal as a Ranger, and Eeli Tolvanen and Gabe Perreault also scored. Nikita Kucherov supplied Tampa Bay’s lone goal. New York killed all seven Lightning power plays.

Why the home opener mattered

The result also gave New York an early answer to last season’s home scoring drought. The Rangers went scoreless in each of their first three home games and did not score at Madison Square Garden until their fourth. This time, they struck on their first power-play chance and kept adding pressure.

One night cannot prove the scoring issues are gone. Still, a quick home response, dependable penalty killing and 24 saves from Shesterkin are a better start than a year ago. Against a Lightning team that has been an Eastern Conference measuring stick, that is meaningful even before the goalie’s goal enters the conversation.

Kris’s Take

The goal is the headline, but the Rangers’ special teams and response deserve the bigger share of the credit. A goalie goal is a rare highlight; a penalty kill that survives seven chances can travel with a team. New York looked more connected than it did in the opener, and Shesterkin gave the home crowd both the steady work it expects and a moment it will replay for years. My take: if the Rangers want this win to mean more than a great clip, they need to make the forecheck and penalty kill look this organized on ordinary nights, too.

Sources

This original Kris Rally report is based on the NHL’s official game recap and Reuters’ report.