
Tuesday night’s NHL slate features several games with massive implications on the field for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but one of the games between two teams out of the playoff picture brought massive fireworks.
The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils got together at Madison Square Garden for the final iteration of the Hudson River Rivalry this season, and goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jacob Markstrom squared off for a goalie fight in front of a raucous crowd.
With the Rangers holding a 4-1 lead midway through the third period, Markstrom crossed center ice during a scrum to get his chance to trade blows with Shesterkin.
The tilt lasted about 20 seconds, ending with Shesterkin taking Markstrom down and earning an embrace from captain J.T. Miller.
IGOR SHESTERKIN GOALIE FIGHT VS. JACOB MARKSTROM pic.twitter.com/xiKuEauieb
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 1, 2026
After a lengthy drought, goalie fights have become more commonplace during this NHL season. Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy squared off for one at the Stadium Series game earlier this year, and prior to that in January, it was San Jose’s Alex Nedeljkovic and Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky dropping the mitts for a bout.
New York went on to grab a 4-1 win over New Jersey thanks to goals by Conor Sheary, Miller, Jaroslav Chmelar and Mika Zibanejad. Shesterkin, who has gone through an injury-plagued season turned aside 22 of 23 Devils shots in the winning effort.
The 30-year-old Moscow native entered the game with a .912 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average in his 46 appearances.
Markstrom has struggled in his second season with the Devils since being acquired from the Calgary Flames. The veteran owns a .884 SV% and 3.09 GAA as New Jersey failed to make good on a hot start to the season, quickly cratering toward the bottom of the standings in the East as the season wore on.
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