Igor Shesterkin’s goalie goal explained: a Rangers first, not an NHL first

Igor Shesterkin became the first New York Rangers goaltender to score a goal on Thursday, October 1, 2026, completing a 5–1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. The play featured in Sportsnet’s highlight coverage marks a franchise first: other NHL goalies have scored before.

With 2:34 remaining, Shesterkin sent the puck the length of the ice into an empty net. Tampa Bay had removed goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy for an extra attacker while trailing 4–1, leaving Shesterkin an unguarded target at the other end.

How Shesterkin scored against the Lightning

The NHL’s account of the play traces it to Lightning defenseman John Carlson’s stretch pass. The puck deflected into the corner, then bounced back toward the crease. Shesterkin skated into it and shot down the ice while dropping to one knee.

The puck flew into Tampa Bay’s end, landed above the high slot and slid inside the left post. The goal was recorded as unassisted at 17:26 of the third period. Shesterkin had deliberately shot into the opposing net, rather than receiving credit for an opponent’s misplaced pass.

What record did Shesterkin set?

This was Shesterkin’s first NHL goal and the first ever credited to a Rangers goalie. Across the league, he became the 18th goaltender credited with a goal. His was the position’s 21st goal overall, a total that includes 19 in the regular season and two in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

There are two routes into that record book. A goalie can shoot the puck into the opposing net, as Shesterkin did, or receive credit as the last player on his team to touch it before an opponent accidentally puts it into their own goal.

The NHL’s historical list begins with Billy Smith, who received goal credit for the New York Islanders on November 28, 1979. Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ron Hextall became the first to score by shooting the puck into the net on December 8, 1987.

How the goal differs from Ilya Sorokin’s

Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin joined the list on March 1, 2025, through the other route. He made a save against Nashville before Steven Stamkos later sent an errant pass into the Predators’ empty net. Sorokin received the goal because he had been the last Islander to touch the puck.

Shesterkin’s finish instead came directly from his own shot. Sportsnet published a 90-second highlight dated October 1 showing the play, while Gino Hard’s report included footage of him collecting fist bumps along the Rangers bench, attributed to The Athletic’s Peter Baugh.

The Associated Press report carried by CBS News New York also described the response inside Madison Square Garden. Fans chanted “Igor’s better!” during the goaltending matchup, with more “Igor!” chants following his goal. Those are documented crowd reactions; the reports establish no verified total for online views or shares.

What else happened in the Rangers’ 5–1 win?

Shesterkin also stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced. Nikita Kucherov scored Tampa Bay’s only goal, with the puck going in off Rangers center Noah Laba. New York killed all seven Lightning power plays, according to NHL.com.

Mika Zibanejad opened the scoring on a power play less than six minutes into the game. Pavel Dorofeyev and Eeli Tolvanen each scored their first goal for the Rangers, and Gabe Perreault redirected an Adam Fox shot for New York’s fourth.

That early breakthrough mattered after the Rangers’ previous home start. In October 2025, they became the first NHL team shut out in its first three home games, waiting nearly 181 minutes for a home goal. They also entered Thursday’s game after losing this season’s opener 3–0 at Boston on Tuesday.

“The way he played today and obviously the amount of chances that he’s had to do that and now finally get it, it was great,” Zibanejad told NHL.com about Shesterkin’s goal.

When do the Rangers play next?

The Rangers next play at Detroit on Friday, October 2. CBS/AP reported that Dylan Garand appeared in line to start because backup Joonas Korpisalo was injured; that was a projection, rather than a confirmed starting assignment. Tampa Bay hosts Washington in its home opener on Saturday, October 3.