This is one of the weirdest goals ever scored in the NHL Playoffs.
Calgary Flames’ defenseman Rasmus Andersson scored on Edmonton Oilers’ goalie Mike Smith from behind his own blueline Tuesday night. The Flames and Oilers were playing Game 4 of their Round 2 NHL Playoff series at Rogers Place.
With the Oilers leading 3-2 in the third period, Edmonton forward Evander Kane turned the puck over in the Calgary zone. Flames’ Andersson immediately recovered the loose puck and shot it down the full length of the ice on Mike Smith.
Andersson’s incredible shot traveled 132 feet in the air and went into the goal. Once the shot beat Smith, the veteran goaltender reacted like he had no clue what just happened.
Here’s a view that shows the puck travelling the full distance and beating Smith:
While the goal tied the game 3-3, Smith was luckily bailed out by a teammate minutes later. Oilers’ forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the game-winning goal seven minutes after Smith’s blunder.
Due to Nugent-Hopkins clutch goal, Smith was able to joke about Andersson’s fluky goal in his post-game interview. “I can laugh now, right?”, Smith joked. Smith said that was the first time in his career where he actually lost track of the puck.
Reporters also asked Flames’ Andersson about what happened on the goal. The Flames’ blueliner said he didn’t see the puck go in the net but he thought once he launched the shot that it had a chance of going in.
Smith wouldn’t have heard the end of this one had the Oilers lost the game. But with Edmonton winning to go up 3-1 in the series, Smith will be able to look back at his blunder one day and simply laugh.