The Rangers were able to maintain a sliver of their pride at Madison Square Garden.
Igor Shesterkin has done his best all season to no avail, but Tuesday night against the Devils, the Blueshirts star netminder showed his inner fight — literally — by dropping his gloves with Jacob Markstrom and making 22 saves in a 4-1 win over New Jersey.
The victory ensured the Rangers avoided a complete season sweep at the hands of both of their tristate rivals.
More than that, Shesterkin’s confrontation provided a rare thrilling moment on home ice.
“I’d like to thank my boxing coach,” No. 31 said with a cheeky smile after his 23rd win of the season.
Devils forward Paul Cotter knocked into Shesterkin less than halfway through the third period and drew the ire of every Ranger on the ice — but especially the Blueshirts goalie.
As everybody piled up behind the Rangers net, Markstrom skated down and challenged Shesterkin.
The Russian netminder calmly took off his gloves. Markstrom waited.
Igor Shesterkin and Jacob Markstrom fight on the ice during the first period of the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Devils on March 31, 2026 at the Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
The rival goaltenders then went blow-for-blow as the Garden reached a decibel level it hasn’t touched for Rangers games in way too long.
If a winner were to have his hand raised in true MMA style, it would have been Shesterkin.
The last Rangers goalie to tussle was Dan Cloutier on April 4, 1998, against the Islanders.
“I was just like, ‘Ooh, how huge he is,’ ” Shesterkin said of what was going through his mind as Markstrom approached. “I just don’t want to get knocked out.”
Tye Kartye (24) and Will Borgen (17) celebrate with left wing Conor Sheary (43) after Sheary scores a goal during the first period of the Rangers’ win over the Devils at the Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
The Rangers have talked a lot about playing with pride since their season went off the rails months ago. This was a victory rooted in pride not just for the team, but the fans and MSG.
It was fitting for Shesterkin to be at the heart of arguably the most feel-good win the team has had at home this season.
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No one is more important to the Rangers’ future than Shesterkin, whose first year of a historic eight-year, $92 million contract could not have gone more sideways. Head coach Mike Sullivan called him “the foundation,” while lauding his competitiveness, practice habits and work ethic.
“He reminds me a lot of [Henrik] Lundqvist from when I was here my previous time here as an assistant. That was always my observation of watching Hank. He was a fierce competitor, and his practice habits were off the charts. I’ve watched the same thing with Shesty. I think, in a lot of ways, he personifies what we want to become.”
Tuesday’s win marked the last meeting against a tristate rival for the Rangers, who still finished with a troublesome 1-6 record against the Devils and the Islanders.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers and goaltender Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils get into a scuffle during the third period at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
A pair of 6-3 losses to the Devils earlier this month set this game up to make Rangers history for all the wrong reasons. The club has never gone winless against the Devils and Islanders in a season.
The Rangers were able to avoid such a catastrophe, though it was only their 12th win at home this season.
“We needed that,” said captain J.T. Miller, who gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the first period. “Just little things like that. I mean, we’ve been playing well, I think. Since the break, I think, we’ve liked a lot of our games, and especially going back to the Toronto game, we feel like we deserve better there. So that’s four in a row that we’ve liked, especially at home. There hasn’t been, unfortunately, a lot to cheer about early this year. To have a moment like that, it’s really special.”
Center J.T. Miller #8 of the New York Rangers scores a goal past goaltender Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
l Mika Zibanejad was named the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner for the third time in his Rangers career Tuesday.
The honor, which is voted on by the fans for the player who “goes above and beyond the call of duty,” is named after the late New York City Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986, and died Jan. 10, 2017.
The Swedish center is only the fourth Rangers skater to win the award at least three times. After earning the award in back-to-back seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20, Zibanejad became the sixth Blueshirt to win the award in at least two consecutive seasons.