Post-whistle scrums are common in the NHL. What's less common is seeing a superstar goaltender join the commotion after the whistle blows.
During the New York Rangers' 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday in New York, star goaltender Igor Shesterkin charged right into the middle of the fight and was ready to take a swing. .
The Rangers were leading 3-0 against the Senators with 12:51 left in the third period when things went wrong at Madison Square Garden.
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New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin, 31, hits Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, 7, during the third period on January 21, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ) leaves Kreese to confront him. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk went for the loose puck on his neck, but it collided with Rangers star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, forcing the goaltender back into his own goal.
Five Rangers players on the ice swarmed Tkachuk and simultaneously took over guarding the goaltender.
The rest of the Senators players on the ice then defended their captain, and eventually Rangers and Senators skaters paired up with each other in a shoving match.
As all the chaos unfolded, Shesterkin crouched in the crease and pulled himself up.
And suddenly, as the chaos began to subside, Shesterkin got up and rushed straight into the melee, pursuing Tkachuk.
Tkachuk saw Shesterkin coming and punched the goalie in the helmet, knocking Shesterkin down, while Shesterkin threw a blocker at Tkachuk.
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Tkachuk, whose right arm was being grabbed by Rangers forward Matt Lempe, then jostled Shesterkin, and the referee intervened to remove Shesterkin from the scrum.
As Shesterkin was pulled away, Lempe, known for his short stint in the NHL, went after Tkachuk.
However, even though Rempe and Tkachuk were trading punches around the referee, the referee stepped between them and prevented the fight from taking place.
Once order on the ice was restored, referees were called and a number of penalties were handed out.
Shesterkin was given a two-minute penalty for leaving the goaltender's crease. Rempe was given a double minor penalty for disorderly conduct.
Tkachuk was given a double minor penalty for rough conduct and was also given a penalty for goaltender interference.
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New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin, 31, challenges Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, 7, after a collision near the net. (Jared Silver/NHLI via Getty Images)
Senators center Shane Pinto also received a minor penalty for assaulting Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
The Rangers went on a power play after all the penalties, and Artemi Panarin scored to make it 4-0.
Alexis Lafreniere, Artur Kaliyev, Lempe, Panarin and Will Quill all scored to help the Rangers win.
The Rangers are 7-1-3 in their last 11 games, rocketing into the wild-card race after a dreadful December run in which they won just four of 19 games.
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Igor Shesterkin faces Brady Tkachuk. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
It was Shesterkin's second consecutive shutout, stopping all 20 of the Senators' shots on net.
The Rangers will look to continue their winning ways when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at 7pm ET.
The Senators will next face the Boston Bruins on Thursday at 7pm ET.
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