Shesterkin scores Rangers’ first goalie goal and joins a rare NHL club

Igor Shesterkin scored the first goalie goal in Rangers history Thursday, sending the puck into Tampa Bay’s empty net to finish a 5-1 victory in New York’s home opener at Madison Square Garden.

The unassisted goal came at 17:26 of the third period, with 2:34 remaining. Shesterkin also made 24 saves as the Rangers earned their first win after a 3-0 opening loss to Boston. Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Dorofeyev each had a goal and an assist, and New York killed all seven Lightning power plays. NHL.com game report

Shesterkin told NHL.com he lost sight of the puck after shooting it down the ice and initially did not know whether he could celebrate. The crowd’s reaction and his teammates skating toward him supplied the answer.

“Everyone started jumping on me,” he said. “Unbelievable feelings.” Dan Rosen’s postgame report

The NHL counts Shesterkin as the 18th different goaltender credited with a goal. Goaltenders have scored 21 times in league history, including 19 regular-season goals and two in the playoffs. Twelve have scored by shooting the puck themselves. NHL.com’s updated historical account

Why Billy Smith and Ron Hextall hold different firsts

Billy Smith became the first NHL goalie credited with a goal on November 28, 1979. Colorado’s Rob Ramage put the puck into his own net during a delayed penalty, and Smith received credit because he had been the last Islander to touch it. New York lost that game 7-4 to the Rockies. Islanders historical record

Ron Hextall was the first to shoot the puck into the opposing net. On December 8, 1987, he scored with 1:12 remaining in Philadelphia’s 5-2 win over Boston. UPI’s contemporary game report

Hextall recognized the celebration around Shesterkin. Speaking to NHL.com on Friday, he recalled Flyers teammates leaving the bench and shouting after his own goal.

“I’m happy for guys when they do it,” Hextall said.

Hextall also scored against Washington on April 11, 1989, in Philadelphia’s 8-5 win in Game 5 of the Patrick Division semifinals. He remains the only NHL goalie to shoot and score in both the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Adam Kimelman’s interview with Hextall

Photograph: David (bootbearwdc), via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source image cropped by Denniscabrams; TSP displays responsive sizes.