With Igor Shesterkin 's $92 million deal set to kick in this coming season, the New York Rangers star goalie is fine-tuning his game back home this summer. Well … except for the other day during the annual "Ovi Cup" game in Moscow, Russia, when he was beaten by a six-year-old — twice.
Of course, that wasn't just any six-year-old.
That sniper in front of Shesterkin's net just happened to be Sergei Ovechkin , son of the all-time leading NHL goal scorer , Alex Ovechkin.
And just like his dad, Sergei wasted no time reminding Shesterkin what the name "Ovechkin" means for Rangers goalies.
We already know what a good goalie Shesterkin is. Now, we've got an idea what a good sport he is, allowing the youngster to light him up on the ice, in what turned into a fun viral moment.
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Sergei's father has been a nightmare for the Rangers since he entered the NHL 20 years ago. In 76 regular-season games against the Rangers, he's piled up 46 goals, with more than half of them coming against Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist (24). The rest were dispersed across Alexander Georgiev (8), Cam Talbot (3), Steve Valiquette (2), Keith Kinkaid (1) and a few others.
And then there's Shesterkin. The two-time All-Star has faced Ovechkin enough to know the dangers, yet the Great 8 has only found a way to slip five pucks past him since their first meeting in 2021. Of course, that's just three more than Sergei — and Alex had a four-year head start!
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Let's take a look at the five regular-season goals Ovechkin's scored against Shesterkin.
Ovechkin's first goal against Shesterkin came in his first game against the Rangers goalie on February 4, 2021 , at Madison Square Garden. Just seconds after a face-off win — with the Rangers up 3-1 in the third period — he ripped a shot from the left circle past Shesterkin for his 709th career goal, moving him into seventh place on the all-time list at that time.
Ovechkin struck again a year later on February 24, 2022. After being denied by Shesterkin on a breakaway earlier in the third period, Ovechkin broke through with 1:02 remaining. The tip-in from right in front spoiled Shesterkin's shutout bid, but the Rangers still closed out the game.
On October 29, 2024 , Ovechkin opened the scoring in what turned out to be a wild game that also featured a heavyweight fight between Matt Rempe and Dylan McIlrath , and a barrage of first-period goals. Less than five minutes in, Ovechkin moved the puck down low, cut to the net for the return feed, and buried a shot past Shesterkin for a 1-0 Capitals lead.
Kaapo Kakko tied it for the Rangers a few moments later, but Ovechkin — just 1:47 after that goal — ripped home his second of the period to put Washington back up. Those were career goals No. 856 & 857.
His most recent goal against Shesterkin came on March 5, 2025 . With the Rangers leading 2-1 in the third period, Ovechkin pounced on a loose puck right in front of the net and buried it with 9:32 remaining. The Capitals went on to win in overtime. The goal came just a little over a month before Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, which was scored, ironically, against Shesterkin's buddy, Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders . But this one was career goal No. 885, and his fifth against Shesterkin.
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When it mattered most, though, Shesterkin helped the Rangers completely shut down Ovechkin in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ovechkin was held scoreless in the first-round matchup between the Rangers and Capitals that spring, a best-of-7 series the Rangers swept in four games. Ovechkin managed a measly five shots on goal the entire series, with Shesterkin receiving quite a bit of help from his friends. The greatest goal scorer in NHL history was a complete non-factor, and the Rangers moved on with ease.
But Ovechkin owns bragging rights once again. He and the Capitals finished first in the Metropolitan Division last season, and the Rangers didn't even reach the playoffs. Then Ovi Jr. scored two of his four goals against Shesterkin in the Ovi Cup.
Let's see how New York's $92 million man responds next season.
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