Ilya Sorokin scores first NHL goal before Igor Shesterkin, and yeah, he made sure to remind him

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 3, 2025, 20:27 IST

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In an unpredictable twist, New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin scored a rare goalie goal in their 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators, becoming the 17th NHL netminder to do so. The friendly rivalry with fellow goaltender Igor Shesterkin adds another layer as their teams prepare for a crucial division matchup.

Ilya Sorokin scores first NHL goal before Igor Shesterkin, and yeah, he made sure to remind him

(Image via Getty)

Ilya Sorokin probably didn’t wake up thinking he’d score a goal in the New York Islanders' 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators. But hockey is unpredictable, and a misplayed pass by Steven Stamkos sent the puck sliding into an empty net. Since Sorokin was the last Islander to touch it, the goal was his.
He didn’t exactly celebrate. “If I shot this goal, I think it would have been a different emotion. It’s just luck,” Sorokin said, per New York Post. But that didn’t stop him from taking a playful shot at New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin. “I knew I’d do it before Igor.”

Ilya Sorokin joins rare NHL goalie goal club, while Patrick Roy is left wishing he had one

Scoring as a goalie isn’t common. Ilya Sorokin became just the 17th netminder in NHL history to pull it off. The first? Billy Smith, also an Islanders legend, back in 1979. Martin Brodeur still holds the record with three.

This season, Sorokin is the third goaltender to score, joining Pittsburgh Penguins’ Alex Nedeljkovic and Minnesota Wild’s Filip Gustavsson. Islanders head coach Patrick Roy—who happens to be one of the greatest goalies ever—never got one in his 19-year career.
“It was part of my bucket list, to score a goal in my career,” Roy admitted via NHL.com. “I’m sure he’s (Sorokin) pretty happy about it. Doesn’t matter how it goes in.”

New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders is about to get even better with Ilya Sorokin vs. Igor Shesterkin

The Islanders and Rangers already have one of the best rivalries in the NHL, and now, Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin have another storyline to add to it. Their next matchup? Madison Square Garden on March 3.
The Islanders are fighting for position in the Metropolitan Division, sitting seventh, just one point behind the Rangers. Meanwhile, Sorokin and Shesterkin—who once competed together in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition—will have to leave the jokes aside when they’re between the pipes.
Shesterkin has actually tried shooting at an empty net multiple times. Sorokin? Not so much. “I never think about scoring goals,” he admitted. “It’s a moment, [it] happens. It’s a hockey game. [Stuff] happens.”
Scoring was fun. But next time, he’ll be focused on keeping the puck out.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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