After the New York Rangers goalie accepted the postgame victory hat from Niko Mikkola following the Rangers' 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round, he quickly regifted the fedora to a teammate, and cracked a joke while he was at it. Shesterkin gave the hat to defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who scored in the second period on a rising shot from a tight angle to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead. "I never think he can make a shot higher than knee," Shesterkin said while giving Lindgren the hat.
The lighthearted crack at his teammate got a raucous applause from the rest of the locker room. Lindgren then had the honor of placing the puck on the board shaped like the Stanley Cup. The board has 16 spots for 16 pucks, each signifying a playoff win.
