New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin did something Thursday night no NHL goalie did all of last season: score a goal.
Shesterkin sealed the Rangers' win over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning when he scored an empty-net goal at 17:26 of the third period. His length-of-the-ice goal made him the first Rangers goaltender with a score, MSG's Kenny Albert said on the Rangers' broadcast.
The goal gave the Rangers a 5-1 lead in what became their first win of the 2026-27 season.
THREE DAYS INTO THE SEASON AND WE ALREADY HAVE A GOALIE GOAL!! pic.twitter.com/4EeZoqz3Wv
— NHL (@NHL) October 2, 2026
Shesterkin, who captured the Vezina Trophy in 2022, stopped 24 of 25 shots in his full-time role.
The last goalie credited with a goal in an NHL game was Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders,
who last touched a puck the Nashville Predators put into their own net during a game on March 1, 2025. Alex Nedeljkovic was the last goalie to shoot the puck in the net when he scored during a Jan. 17, 2025 game for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Goalie goal! Rangers' Igor Shesterkin scores against Lightning
