Summer is when goalies get better — Subscribe for access to 1,400+ articles & episodes, less than $1/week Subscribe Now →
Subscribe

He Shoots, He Scores: Shesterkin with First Goalie Goal in Rangers History

David Hutchison | | 2 min read
Igor Shesterkin scores into the empty net with 2:34 left in the third period of the Rangers’ 5-1 home-opener win over Tampa Bay. (Video: MSG Networks)

It took the New York Rangers 100 years, but they finally have one.

With 2:34 left in their home opener on Thursday night, Igor Shesterkin fired the puck from his own end, the length of the ice, into Tampa Bay’s empty net. It went in, unassisted, to finish a 5-1 win over the Lightning at Madison Square Garden. It was the first goal ever scored by a Rangers goaltender, and the first goal of Shesterkin’s NHL career.

It is also only the 21st goal credited to a goaltender in NHL history, and Shesterkin is just the 18th goalie to score one. He is the first to do it at Madison Square Garden. Thirteen of those 21 were shot into the net, as this one was. The other eight were credited to a goalie who happened to be the last of his team to touch the puck before an opponent put it into his own net.

There had not been one in the NHL since March 1, 2025, when Ilya Sorokin was credited with a goal for the crosstown Islanders. Sorokin’s came on a last touch. Shesterkin shot his.

Every goalie goal, in one place

We keep a running record of every goal scored by a goaltender, and it now includes Shesterkin’s. Goalie Goals: every goal scored by a goaltender has all 21 NHL goals, from Billy Smith in 1979 to Thursday night, with video for each one. It also covers the AHL, ECHL, junior, college, and European leagues, plus the records:

  • Who scored the first goalie goal, and who was the first to actually shoot one in?
  • Which goalie has scored the most?
  • Has a goalie ever scored in the playoffs, short-handed, or on another goalie?
See every goalie goal

Know of a goalie goal at any level that we are missing? There is a form at the bottom of the page. Send us a source and we will add it.

Why goalies keep scoring

Goalie goals were once a novelty. Now one comes along most seasons. Kevin Woodley looked at why in The Future of Goalie Goals. If you want to be the next one, Mike Smith, who scored his own in 2013, walks two junior goalies through his puck-handling in Puckhandling Lessons from Mike Smith.

More on Shesterkin: Igor Shesterkin’s InGoal profile.

Save