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The rivalry between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils is among the best in the NHL, and the two teams created a new chapter on Tuesday night.
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin and Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom dropped the gloves in a rare goaltending battle in the third period of New York’s 4-1 win over New Jersey.
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New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin (31) answers New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom’s challenge for a scrimmage in the third period at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 2026. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)
New York, USA; New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin (31) and New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) battle in the third period at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 2026. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)
As a brouhaha began near Shesterkin’s net, Markstrom skated off the ice with his helmet off. The two knew it was on from there. Shesterkin seemed to get the better of Markstrom in the scrum and took more hits than his goalie colleague did.
“I want to thank my boxing trainer,” Shesterkin joked after the fight.
The game surprised even Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan.
“It was a great fight. I didn’t know Shesty had it in him,” Sullivan said.
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Markstrom said he felt he needed to get involved in the melee as the Devils struggled throughout the game.
“I felt like I had to do something,” he said. “It’s adrenaline. You just go there and swing for the fences.”
Rangers star JT Miller praised the “old-school” nature of the game.
New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) takes the ice for the start of the game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 2026. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)
“It’s just so rare, unexpected,” Miller said. “It was just old-school … I think it was great for our team to see that. To see what a goalie can do — obviously, goalies don’t struggle that often — to see him have our backs and stand up for himself obviously sends a message that he’s such a leader for us.”
New York and New Jersey are in the bottom barrel of the Metropolitan Division this season.
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The Rangers, already eliminated from the postseason, improved to 31-35-9. The Devils fell to 38-34-2.
