Shesterkin Waited Years to Score. Now He’s Hungry for More

Written by Gina Anton

For years, Igor Shesterkin has treated scoring a goal like an unfinished part of his game.

On Thursday night, he finally checked it off.

With the Tampa Bay Lightning net empty late in the third period, the New York Rangers goaltender took the puck off a faceoff in his own zone and sent it soaring down the ice. It found the empty net, giving Shesterkin his first NHL goal and making him the first Rangers goaltender to score.

There was just one problem: Shesterkin didn't actually see it go in.

"I didn't see the puck land so I didn't know can I celebrate or not," Shesterkin said.

His teammates solved that problem for him.

As the Rangers rushed toward their goaltender, Shesterkin realized the moment he'd spent years imagining had finally arrived. The 30-year-old became just the 18th different goaltender in NHL history to score a goal, joining a group that includes some of the rarest goal-scorers the sport has ever seen.

But for Shesterkin, the history may not be the most interesting part.

He has never treated scoring as something a goalie should simply leave to the other end of the ice. He has regularly looked for opportunities to fire the puck down the rink, coming close enough times that Rangers teammates had started expecting one to eventually find the net.

Now he knows he can do it.

"Maybe next time. I will keep trying to score one more time," Shesterkin said.

That might be the most fitting ending to the night. After waiting years for his first NHL goal, Shesterkin isn't satisfied with making history once.

The Rangers may have just discovered another weapon.