Alright, you aren’t going to believe what went down on Thursday night. New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin did something no other NHL goalie pulled off all of last season: he scored a goal. Yeah, you read that right. A goalie. Scored. It’s only three days into the 2026-27 season, and we’re already seeing jaw-dropping stuff like this!
Shesterkin Goes Coast-to-Coast to Seal the Deal
This wasn’t some fluke where the other team accidentally put the puck in their own net. Nah, Shesterkin took matters into his own hands, firing the puck the full length of the ice into an empty net at 17:26 of the third period. That empty-net beauty officially sealed the Rangers’ win over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, making the score 5-1. MSG’s Kenny Albert on the Rangers’ broadcast confirmed it: Shesterkin is the very first Rangers goaltender ever to score a goal. This wasn’t just a highlight reel moment either, it clinched the Rangers’ first win of the new season. What a way to kick things off!
Vezina Talent and a Rarity on Ice
Shesterkin’s performance wasn’t just about that incredible goal. He was a brick wall all night, stopping 24 of 25 shots in his full-time role. This guy isn’t just a gimmick, he’s legit, having already captured the Vezina Trophy back in 2022. It’s wild to think how rare a goalie goal is. The last goalie credited with a goal was Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, but that was back on March 1, 2025, when the Nashville Predators accidentally put the puck into their own net. The last time a goalie *actually shot* the puck into the net like Shesterkin did was Alex Nedeljkovic for the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 17, 2025. This isn’t just a rare moment, it’s a statement.
What a start to the NHL season! If this is the kind of energy and unexpected brilliance we’re getting just a few days in, you know this season is going to be absolutely wild. You can’t ask for more excitement to kick off October, can you?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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