Overview
- At Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Devils forward Paul Cotter crashed into Igor Shesterkin behind the net, sparking a scrum that set up the night’s defining moment.
- Jacob Markstrom then skated the length of the ice to confront Shesterkin, leading to a rare goalie-on-goalie fight that brought the crowd to its feet.
- Officials gave both netminders five-minute fighting majors and two minutes for leaving the crease, and Cotter drew a two-minute goalie-interference penalty.
- Shesterkin made 22 saves in the 4-1 Rangers win, and teammates and coaches said the fight gave the team and fans an emotional lift in a difficult season.
- It was the first NHL fight for both goalies, and video showed Shesterkin landing more punches and taking Markstrom to the ice, in a league where goalie fights are uncommon and each franchise last saw one in the 1990s.