VIDEO: NY Rangers G Igor Shesterkin gets a goalie-goal

The New York Rangers might not have great prospects for the 2026-27 season, but star goaltender Igor Shesterkin provided a highlight that can define even the worst of seasons.

As time wound down in the Blueshirts’ home opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Rangers’ Russian net-minder went to clear the puck out of New York’s zone. Shesterkin succeeded…but just didn’t expect the puck to go straight into the Bolts’ empty net. He also became the first Rangers goalie to score a goal at all.

The Rangers won 5-1 and evened their record to 1-1-0 after being shut out 3-0 by the Bruins in Tuesday’s season opener. And it could be anywhere from the next game to four games from now before the team has another notable highlight.

No disrespect to the Rangers, but this has kind of been their story for the last 20 years. Going all the way back to “King” Henrik Lundqvist. A roster made up of very good-more-than-great talent carried by elite work between the pipes.

To say that this year’s Rangers team is very good is being generous. Aside from Shesterkin and former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, there are no eye-popping talents. Chris Drury and Mike Sullivan are, essentially, banking on captain J.T. Miller and newly acquired Pavel Dorofeyev overachieving. Oh, and Mika Zibanejad chipping in his usual 25-30 goals despite now being 33.

Win, lose, middle, or tank, the 2026-27 New York Rangers will always have the goalie goal. Garbage time of an early season game they had locked down. Zibanejad, Fox, and Dorofoyev had two points each. Solid team effort across the board after falling apart late in Boston.

And then, in a case of 99% dumb luck and 1% just because he could, Igor Shesterkin put his vodka on ice and called game.