Shesterkin Makes Rangers History, Woll Makes 41 Saves in Flyers Debut
Plus: Kirkwood to coach PWHL Las Vegas, Denver's unbeaten Hicks back in net, and Strauss Mann wins again in Sweden
In this edition 11 stories
NHL
Coaches
College
International
NHLShesterkin makes Rangers history
Igor Shesterkin became the first goalie in Rangers history to score, and the 18th in NHL history, sending the puck the length of the ice into Tampa Bay’s empty net with 2:34 left in a 5-1 home-opener win. He made 24 saves, and the win was his 100th at Madison Square Garden in 177 games. It was his second goal as a goalie: playing junior for MHK Spartak on October 31, 2013, he scored the first goaltender goal in MHL history, also into an empty net.
He wasn’t sure he was allowed to celebrate: “Someone on the blue line screened me a little bit when I make the shot and I didn’t see the puck land, so I didn’t know can I celebrate or not.” (NHL.com)
On InGoal: The full story · Every NHL goalie goal, now 21 of them, and how many were shot in versus credited · From the archive: the “hovercraft” movement behind his game
NHLDylan Garand gets the call
Earlier in the day, the Rangers recalled Dylan Garand from Hartford and placed Joonas Korpisalo on injured reserve; Korpisalo is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. (AP)
On InGoal: Garand let us into his whole summer. His Pro Drills series includes the Shesterkin drills he uses for RVH entries and lateral recoveries, and he explained his Carey Price-inspired key to crease movement. His first Pro Read: sticking to foundations on unpredictable plays.
NHLWoll keeps the Flyers in it
Joseph Woll’s first game in Philadelphia was a busy one: 41 saves, taking the Devils to overtime before Jack Hughes won it 3-2. Jake Allen earned the win with 23 saves in his first start of the season. (NHL.com · Philadelphia Inquirer)
On InGoal: Woll broke down 17 Pro Reads for us in Toronto. Start with Pro Reads 17. Jake Allen joined us on InGoal Radio Episode 276, and his Pro Reads from St. Louis and Montreal break down how he plays; start with Montreal Pro-Read 6.
NHLOpening-night shutouts, with history attached
Arturs Silovs made 19 saves in Pittsburgh’s 7-0 season-opening win on Wednesday. He opened last season with a shutout too, 25 saves against the Rangers, and is only the fifth goalie with season-opening shutouts in back-to-back seasons. (NHL.com)
Karel Vejmelka followed on Thursday with 15 saves in Utah’s 6-0 win over Chicago, his ninth NHL shutout and the first home shutout in franchise history. (NHL.com)
On InGoal: Silovs on InGoal Radio Episode 205 · Pro Drills featuring the Latvian hero · Pro Drills with Vejmelka and Jaxson Stauber
NHLAround the league
- Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota: 19 of 20 in a 3-1 win in Nashville (ESPN box score) · Wallstedt and Fowler: watch the shooters, not just the goalies
- Joey Daccord, Seattle: 24 saves in a 6-1 win in Calgary (Kraken) · Daccord’s 5 tips for goalie parents · his Pro Reads
- Yaroslav Askarov, San Jose: 23 saves in a 4-3 overtime win over Florida; Akira Schmid made 28 in his Panthers debut (NHL.com)
- Jet Greaves, Columbus: 23 saves in a 6-3 opening win over Buffalo (NHL.com) · Greaves Pro Reads 10: managing scans, screens and scrambles
- Stuart Skinner starts the season as Winnipeg’s No. 1 when the Jets open at home tonight against Boston (TSN) · Skinner on InGoal Radio Episode 338
CoachesBrad Kirkwood to PWHL Las Vegas
PWHL Las Vegas named Brad Kirkwood its goaltending coach for the expansion team’s first season. Kirkwood coached the Toronto Sceptres’ goalies for three seasons and has worked with Canada’s National Women’s Team since 2015, a run that includes Olympic gold in 2022. He also runs Top Prospects Goaltending, which already has a Las Vegas branch. (PWHL)
On InGoal: Hockey Canada’s eyes-closed drills with Brad Kirkwood · Top Prospects Goaltending in our coach directory
CollegeThe champion is back
The men’s NCAA season opens this weekend, and the goalie to watch is Denver’s Johnny Hicks. He took over midseason last year and went 16-0-1 with a 1.19 GAA and .957 save percentage, then won a national title and Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player. North Dakota’s Jan Spunar, the reigning NCHC Goaltender of the Year, is a preseason all-conference pick. (College Hockey News)
On InGoal: Johnny Hicks: from the bench to NCAA champion and Frozen Four MVP (InGoal Radio Ep. 365)
PWHLBrändli's new chapter
PWHL Detroit released its first schedule (December 5 to April 18, at Little Caesars Arena), and goaltender Andrea Brändli spoke for the expansion team: “We’re about to begin the very first chapter of PWHL Detroit. There’s something incredibly special about knowing that every game, every moment and every memory we create this season will become part of this team’s history.” (PWHL)
Next week: PWHL teams announce their training camp rosters, 28 to 32 players each, ahead of camps opening November 18. (PWHL)
On InGoal: Andrea Brändli, top women’s goalie of the 2026 Olympics (InGoal Radio Ep. 343)
InternationalStrauss Mann keeps winning
Skellefteå’s Strauss Mann, who set the SHL record with 10 shutouts last season, made 22 saves in a home win over Malmö on Thursday. That’s three wins in his last four starts. (SHL)
On InGoal: The US Olympian who rediscovered his passion for the game in Europe (InGoal Radio Ep. 364) · The mental shift that changed everything for Strauss Mann
JuniorMasen Johnston’s first OHL shutout
Masen Johnston, Peterborough Petes: his first OHL shutout, 32 saves in a 4-0 win over Erie. (Peterborough Petes)
Birthdays
Happy birthday to former Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers goalie Norm Maracle (52), Edmonton Oilers goalie Frederik Andersen (37), a Stanley Cup champion with Carolina last season, and former Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo (33).
On InGoal: Frederik Andersen Managing Depth and Anticipation Against a 2-on-0 and InGoal Radio Episode 331 with Kasimir Kaskisuo.
Have goalie news, a big save, a signing, or a coaching hire? Send it to info@ingoalmag.com.