Igor Shesterkin Scored Goal in NHL Win

The New York Rangers goaltender joined an elite list of netminders to tally a goal in NHL history.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Hockey

Live Poll

Do you enjoy seeing rare individual player feats like a goalie scoring a goal?

Igor Shesterkin became the 12th goaltender to score a goal in NHL history during a 5-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound netminder secured the feat by shooting a rolling puck off the boards into an empty net.

Why it matters

Scoring a goal remains one of the rarest feats in hockey, highlighting the unique skill set required for modern goaltenders to impact the game offensively. The achievement places Shesterkin in a select group of only 18 goalies who have combined for 21 total goals in league history.

Shesterkin is the 12th goalie to score a regular-season goal, contributing to a total of 19 regular-season and 2 playoff goals recorded by NHL netminders. The 5-1 victory underscores the rarity of this occurrence within the league.

The players

Igor Shesterkin

He is a professional goaltender in the NHL who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 198 pounds.

Ron Hextall

He was the first goaltender to score an NHL goal and remains the only one to score in both the regular season and playoffs.

The details

Shesterkin successfully sent the puck into the opposing empty net after tracking a rolling puck off the boards. Ron Hextall, the first goalie to score in an NHL game, noted that improved training and equipment will likely lead to more goalies scoring in the future.

Dec. 8, 1987: Ron Hextall scored the first NHL goalie goal.
April 11, 1989: Ron Hextall scored a playoff goal.
Thursday: Igor Shesterkin scored his goal.

Hockey
Oct. 5
NHL Named Three Stars of the Week
Hockey
Oct. 4
Islanders Shut Out Devils in 6-0 Victory
Hockey
Sept. 23
NHL Teams Waived 34 Players in Roster Moves

Season Trajectory

This rare event follows the pattern set by Ron Hextall's 1987 goal against the Boston Bruins, establishing a benchmark for offensive contributions from the crease. Shesterkin's goal adds to a legacy of goalie scoring that has seen only 21 successful shots in league history.

Shesterkin's goal provides a unique highlight for the Rangers' 5-1 win and serves as a statistical outlier in fantasy hockey scoring. This event reinforces the trend of active goaltenders who possess the puck-handling ability to threaten empty nets during power plays or late-game deficits.

The takeaway

Shesterkin joining the ranks of scoring goalies highlights how modern goaltenders are increasingly involved in offensive transitions. Fans should watch for increased risk-taking from netminders as equipment and training continue to evolve.