Shesterkin becomes first Rangers goalie to score, reacts with surprise
Igor Shesterkin scored an empty-net goal from his own end in New York's 5-1 home win over Tampa Bay. He said he did not see the puck cross the line before teammates celebrated around him. The goal made him the 18th goaltender in NHL history to score and the first for the Rangers, and he said he will keep trying.
Shesterkin’s goal came late in the third period of the Rangers’ 5-1 home opener. Tampa Bay had pulled Vasilevskiy; John Carlson sent the puck into New York’s zone, where it caromed off the boards near the crease. From one knee, Shesterkin sent it the full length into the empty net. He didn’t see it cross; he knew from the crowd and teammates.
The Rangers have used 93 goalies since 1926-27, and he is the first to score. League-wide he is the 18th, about one every six seasons. He previously scored in the MHL with Spartak Moscow at 19 in October 2013, and waited nine NHL seasons.
Shesterkin’s empty-net goal could become a lasting trivia moment for Rangers fans and NHL viewers, especially younger goalies who rarely see their position celebrated for scoring. It may briefly shift attention toward goaltenders’ overlooked two-way potential and create viral clips that draw casual sports fans. Teammates and coaches may also use it as a morale boost, though its broader social impact is likely modest and mostly confined to hockey culture.