The Hudson River Rivalry was in full effect Tuesday night at The Garden which included a heavyweight sparring match between goalies and the New York Rangers defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-1. In the final matchup of the season, the Rangers prevented the Devils from completing the season sweep in exciting fashion.
While we’ve seen these two teams battle in line brawls on multiple occasions in the past, you can now check ‘goalie fight’ off the bucket list.
“I just was like ‘ooh how huge he is,’” Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin said postgame when addressing his fight with Devils goalie Jacob Markström. “And I said like ‘I just don’t want to get knocked out.”
The Blueshirts opened the scoring nearly halfway through the first period when Conor Sheary scored on a tip off a Tye Kartye wrist shot just near the blue line. Continuing the trend of low shots on goal at the start of the game, it was their first of the night that ended up resulting in a goal. They’d add to their lead five minutes later taking advantage of the powerplay when Alexis Lafrenière sent a puck to the net with JT Miller finishing the job at the crease tapping it past Markström.
It didn’t take long for the Devils to get back within one coming out of the first intermission. Less than a minute into the period and five seconds into the powerplay, Connor Brown got the rebound that hit off Shesterkin and knocked it past him. Using the man advantage, New Jersey was within one and trying to battle back.
Shortly after, New York was back to a two goal lead when Jaroslav Chmelar capitalized on a loose puck in front after Markström made the save. While New Jersey were the dominators in the first two games, the Rangers had total control in this one.
In the third period we’d get one last glimpse of Mika March before it turned to April at midnight when Zibanejad hit a quick one timer just outside the pipes on a drive from the right side to make it 4-1. Thanks to a perfect pass from Gabe Perreault, he finished the month with 17 points in 16 games.
While the scoring ended there, the action was far from over. With about nine minutes remaining, Devils Forward Paul Cotter knocked down Shesterkin during a play. Days after retaliating from a jab by the Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk, Shesterkin once again pursued his assaulter, standing his ground. However this time, he went after someone who had teammates that wouldn’t put up with it; Specifically Jakob Markström.
Racing to the other side of the rink, Markström stripped off his helmet and gloves, heckling Shesterkin and challenging him to a fight. Shesterkin, who took his time to remove his equipment, accepted and fight night was on. Ali vs. Frazier, Marciano vs. Louis, Shesterkin vs. Markström. It was just one of many all-time matchups to take place at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Punch after punch, jersey pull after jersey pull, the building was the loudest it had been all night with everyone cheering their respective goalies on.
“I feel like I needed to do something,” Markström said. “It’s frustrating, Obviously letting in four goals and you stand back there you want to hit somebody you want to get involved you want to do something.”
Rangers fans will swear Shesterkin won, and Devils fans may take it to the grave that Markström beat him. But regardless, an ultra-rare goalie fight took place and it happened within one of the best rivalries in Hockey.
“What a great fight, I didn’t know Shesty [Igor Shesterkin] had it in him,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan said referring to the infamous showdown. Usually when the team’s prized possession gets in a situation where injury can be a result, everyone tends to hold their breath. It certainly wasn’t the case in this instance. “I thought it was great.”
Shesterkin also made sure to give a special thanks in the postgame: “I’d like to thank my boxing coach.”
