New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has become the focal point of NHL headlines after a rare scoring streak that has seen him record both a goal and an assist in consecutive games. According to reports from the NHL, Shesterkin’s performance over the first week of the 2026-27 season earned him the league’s First Star of the Week honors, cementing his status as a dual-threat presence on the ice. The recognition, presented by GEICO, covered the week concluding on October 4.
Shesterkin’s Scoring Streak Across Two Games
The 30-year-old Russian goaltender made history during a 5-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he became the 18th goaltender in NHL history to record a goal in a regular-season game, as reported by the NHL. The milestone was followed by a результативная передача in a 4-2 win against the Utah Hockey Club. This back-to-back production has placed Shesterkin in rare company; according to coverage by Vedomosti, only three other goaltenders—Tom Barrasso, Ed Belfour, and Henrik Lundqvist—have managed to record points in more than two consecutive games in league history. Previously, such a streak occurred in February 2025 when Connor Ingram accomplished the feat for Utah.
The goal against Tampa Bay on October 1, 2026, occurred in the 58th minute of play. Betting records noted by Rating Bukmekerov highlighted that the event provided a significant payout for those who wagered on the goaltender to score, reflecting the rarity of the achievement as one bettor turned a 50-ruble stake into a 25,000-ruble win. Among Russian netminders, only Evgeni Nabokov, who scored on March 10, 2002, and Ilya Sorokin, who scored on March 1, 2025, have achieved this feat.
Shesterkin Earns First Star of the Week Honors
The NHL confirmed that Shesterkin finished the opening week with a 2-1-0 record, maintaining a 1.67 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage across three appearances. His 71 saves ranked second in the league during that period, and he faced 76 total shots, according to Sportbox and NHL records. These statistics were instrumental in his selection as the First Star of the Week, an honor shared with Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, who recorded 8 points in three games, and Vancouver Canucks forward Paul Cotter, who tallied 6 points in four matches.
Analysts cited by Vedomosti suggest that Shesterkin’s offensive contributions are part of a broader tactical shift in the NHL, where teams increasingly utilize empty-net scenarios and aggressive puck-handling from goaltenders to maintain pressure. This trend has allowed elite netminders like Shesterkin to impact the scoresheet more frequently than in previous eras. Currently, Shesterkin’s two points match the output of elite Russian forwards Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Marchenko, and Ivan Demidov.
Shesterkin Rebounds After Challenging 2025-26 Season
Drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (118th overall) in 2014, Shesterkin has established himself as a cornerstone of the franchise. His career totals now include 189 wins, 108 regulation losses, 28 overtime or shootout losses, and 22 shutouts over 328 games, per league records. Following a challenging 2025-26 season where the Rangers missed the playoffs and he recorded only one shutout in 51 games, the current performance serves as a rebound for the former Vezina Trophy winner.
The Rangers are currently managing a roster that includes high-value contracts, and the offensive output from their goaltender has drawn comparisons to the team’s top-earning forward, Pavel Dorofeev, who signed a seven-year contract worth $77 million. Shesterkin himself is under an eight-year deal worth $92 million, carrying an annual cap hit of $11.5 million.
Upcoming Schedule for the Rangers
The New York Rangers are scheduled to return to the ice on October 7, 2026, for a home game against the New York Islanders. This matchup represents the next opportunity for Shesterkin to extend his points streak and further secure his standing among the league’s top-performing goaltenders in the early stages of the season.
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