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Igor Shesterkin scored the first goal by a New York Rangers goaltender on October 1, 2026, sending an unassisted shot into Tampa Bay’s empty net during a 5-1 win. It was the 21st goal credited to an NHL goalie, and Shesterkin became the 18th different goaltender to score one, according to NHL.com.
How Shesterkin scored
With Tampa Bay’s net empty late in the third period, a Lightning stretch pass deflected into the corner and caromed back toward the crease. Shesterkin skated to the puck, dropped to one knee and shot it down the ice. It landed near the high slot and slid inside the left post for an unassisted goal at 17:26, as recorded in the NHL game recap.
Shesterkin lost sight of the puck in flight and waited for the crowd and his teammates to react before celebrating. “I didn’t see the puck land so I didn’t know can I celebrate or not,” he told NHL.com. He described the moment afterward as “Unbelievable feelings.” He also made 24 saves in the Rangers’ 5-1 victory.
Why 18 goalies have scored 21 goals
The two totals measure different things: 18 is the number of different goalies credited with at least one goal, while 21 is the total number of goalie goals. Some goaltenders scored more than once. In its October 2026 historical roundup, NHL.com counted 19 goalie goals in the regular season and two in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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There are two ways a goalie can receive credit for a goal:
- Direct shot: The goalie shoots the puck into the opposing team’s empty net. Shesterkin’s goal was this kind.
- Opponent’s own goal: The goalie is credited as the last teammate to touch the puck before an opponent accidentally puts it into their own net. In those cases, the goalie did not shoot the puck into the net.
NHL.com’s October 2026 count says 12 goalies have scored by shooting into an empty net; Ron Hextall accounts for two of those goals. Shesterkin was the 12th different goalie to do it.
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Ron Hextall set the precedent
Ron Hextall became the first goalie to shoot the puck into the net for a goal, scoring an empty-netter against Boston on December 8, 1987. He later scored a playoff goal and remains the only goalie to shoot and score in both the regular season and playoffs, according to NHL.com.
Hextall welcomed Shesterkin’s moment, saying, “I’m happy for guys when they do it,” and, “The Rangers’ reaction last night was pretty cool for Shesterkin, so it’s a neat thing.”
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What made Shesterkin’s goal distinct
Shesterkin’s goal was a direct, unassisted shot into an empty net, not a goal credited through an opponent’s own goal. Referring to that distinction from Ilya Sorokin’s goal, Shesterkin told NHL.com: “This one counts.”
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