New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin and New Jersey Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom dropped the gloves in a rare fight during the third period of New York’s 4-1 victory on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
The clash happened at the 9:05 mark of the third period, with the Rangers already ahead by three goals. It started after Shesterkin got involved in a scrum behind his net, sparked by interference from Devils forward Paul Cotter. Markstrom skated the length of the ice from his crease to challenge Shesterkin, leading both to remove their helmets and trade punches. Shesterkin landed the cleaner shots and eventually took Markstrom down to the ice, drawing huge cheers from the home crowd. Each goalie received five-minute fighting majors and two-minute minors for leaving the crease.
Shesterkin later credited his boxing coach in a lighthearted comment after the game, marking his first NHL fight. For the Devils, it was their first goalie scrap since 1995, while the Rangers had not seen one since 1998. The bout was just the third goalie fight of the 2025-26 season, adding spice to a heated Metropolitan Division rivalry.
On the scoreboard, Conor Sheary opened the scoring at 8:14 of the first period with his sixth goal of the season, tipping in a shot from the point. J.T. Miller made it 2-0 on the power play at 13:39. Connor Brown pulled one back for New Jersey just 51 seconds into the second, but rookie Jaroslav Chmelar restored the two-goal lead at 11:12. Mika Zibanejad sealed it with his team-high 33rd goal early in the third.
Shesterkin finished with 22 saves, while Markstrom stopped 19 shots in the loss. The Rangers also shut down Devils star Jack Hughes, who had entered with 20 goals in 25 career games against New York, including a hat trick in a 6-3 win on March 7. Adam Fox picked up two assists for the winners.
The victory gave New York its third straight home win in regulation, a bright spot in a tough season with only 12 triumphs in 37 games at the Garden. The Rangers, last in the East with 71 points, have been eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight year after taking the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24.
New Jersey, sitting 10 points out of a wild-card spot, has won six of its last nine but saw its postseason hopes fade further with this defeat, their second loss in three games. The result keeps both teams fighting for pride down the stretch in a lopsided rivalry season.
IGOR SHESTERKIN GOALIE FIGHT VS. JACOB MARKSTROM pic.twitter.com/xiKuEauieb
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 1, 2026
Igor Shesterkin was asked how he learned how to fight
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 1, 2026
"I just want to say thanks to my boxing coach. I just had a couple of lessons, nothing crazy" 😂 pic.twitter.com/Eo5eIpdWMr
