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List of goalscoring NHL goaltenders

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This article is about ice hockey goaltenders who have scored a goal in an NHL game. For the similar feat in association football, see List of goalscoring goalkeepers.
In 1979, Billy Smith became the first NHL goaltender in history to be credited with a goal.
In 1987, Ron Hextall became the first goaltender to score via a direct shot on goal, and later became the first with a short-handed goal. Hextall is the only goaltender to have scored more than once with a direct shot on goal.
Martin Brodeur is the only goaltender to be credited with three goals, two in the regular season and one in the playoffs. He is also the only goaltender credited with a game-winning goal.
After a seven-year lull, Chris Osgood was the first goaltender to directly shoot a goal since Ron Hextall did so in the 1989 playoffs.
Jose Theodore, then playing for the Montreal Canadiens, scored a goal and shutout in a 3–0 game against the New York Islanders.
Evgeni Nabokov was the first non-North American goaltender to directly shoot a goal.
Mike Smith was the first goaltender in over 11 years, since Nabokov, to directly shoot a goal.

Fifteen goaltenders have scored a total of eighteen goals in National Hockey League (NHL) games. Such goals are often called a "goalie goal." A goalkeeper can score by either shooting the puck into the net, or being awarded the goal as the last player on his team to touch the puck when an opponent scored an own goal. A goal scored by shooting the puck is particularly challenging as the goaltender has to aim for a 6 feet (1.8 metres) wide net that is close to 180 feet (55 metres) away, while avoiding opposing defensemen; in the case of own goals, the combined circumstance of the own goal itself in addition to the goaltender being the last player to touch the puck makes it a very rare occurrence. Of the eighteen goals, eleven were scored by shooting the puck and seven were the result of own goals.

Goaltenders have participated in the offence, albeit in a limited way, since the earliest days of the sport. Before the creation of the NHL in 1917, there were some instances recorded of goaltenders rushing down the ice to participate in the play, occasionally scoring a goal. This practice fell out of favour with goaltenders and coaches as goaltending training and equipment became more specialized, greatly reducing the goaltender's ability to effectively participate in offensive play, and was eventually outlawed (goaltenders are not allowed to cross the centre red line to play the puck) after the Toronto Maple Leafs' Gary Smith was injured on such a rush in the 1966–67 NHL season. During the history of the league, there had been some near-misses by goaltenders, including attempts by Chuck Rayner by aiming at the empty net, or joining the attack. In 1977, Rogatien Vachon briefly became the first goaltender to score a goal after being credited following an own goal by the opponent, before it was given instead to a teammate by later video review.

Billy Smith of the New York Islanders became the first goaltender to score an NHL goal on November 28, 1979, when he was given credit following an own goal by the Colorado Rockies. Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers became the second goalkeeper to score, and the first to score by taking a shot. Martin Brodeur has scored the most NHL goals by a goaltender, with two in the regular season and one in the playoffs.

The most recent goal was scored by Filip Gustavsson from the Minnesota Wild on October 15, 2024, against the St. Louis Blues.

Technique

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Under modern rules, the only realistic chance for the goaltender to score exists when the opposing goaltender is pulled for an extra attacker, leaving the six-foot-wide net at the other end of the rink empty. It is assumed that the opposing goaltender, if in net, would not commit a blunder. Furthermore, the goaltender is not allowed to cross the centre red line in order to participate in a play, where the position of the puck is prescribed as the "determining factor" by Rule 27 of the Official NHL Rule Book.[1] The result is that the goaltender cannot participate in play in the opponent's zone, and must take a shot from his side of the rink. Coaches generally discourage any player from shooting at an empty net from their own side of the red line because if the shot goes wide, it results in an icing infraction (unless the team is short-handed, in which case they are allowed to ice the puck). This brings the face off back in the defensive zone and prohibits the offending team from making any substitutions. In practice, a shot from the goaltender is taken from the side of his net, because further travel risks turning the puck over. Due to the distance between the two nets, the puck has to be shot with a trajectory and speed that prevents the opposing team from stopping it while it travels. All NHL goaltenders who have scored a goal by shooting the puck have done so with an empty net; the goals credited to goaltenders that did not shoot the puck were all the result of own goals by the opposing team who had their crease vacated.

A goaltender attempting to score on an empty net is not without risk, as doing so will often put the goaltender out of position and make it easier for the opposition to score should the goaltender's shot be intercepted. As such, goalies typically will only attempt to score if their team is leading by two or more goals. Of the eleven NHL goals scored by goaltenders directly, only three were scored by goaltenders with only a one-goal lead: Chris Osgood, Linus Ullmark and Tristan Jarry. Perhaps uncoincidentally, both Osgood's 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings and Ullmark's 2022–23 Boston Bruins were in the latter stages of dominant Presidents' Trophy-winning seasons when their goals were scored.

Rule 27.7 was instituted in the 1966–67 season, after the Toronto Maple Leafs' Gary Smith had been knocked out by Montreal Canadiens defenceman J. C. Tremblay's bodycheck as the former was crossing the centre red line carrying the puck. Prior to the institution of the rule, the only recorded instances of goaltenders scoring goals involved them rushing to the other end of the rink, and they occurred generally in the early days of ice hockey, around 1900.[2] Furthermore, prior to 1931, empty-net situations did not arise as it was not customary to pull the goaltender late in the game for an extra attacker in an effort to tie the game up. This technique is credited to Art Ross, coach of the Boston Bruins, who pulled Tiny Thompson in game two of the semifinals playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.[3] An instance of an attempted empty-net goal was recorded in 1947, when New York Rangers goaltender Chuck Rayner missed the net "by a whisper" which was vacated when the Toronto Maple Leafs had pulled Turk Broda.[2]

History

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Billy Smith of the New York Islanders, in the 1979–80 season, was the first goaltender to be credited with a goal in the NHL when Rob Ramage of the Colorado Rockies put the puck into his own empty net.[4] Smith was the last Islander to have touched the puck, and by NHL rule 78.4, an unassisted goal is awarded to the last player on the scoring team who had contacted the puck, in the event of an own goal.[5]

However, the participation of goaltenders on offense began long before Billy Smith's goal. The first recorded goal in competitive play, scored by a goaltender, was in 1905. According to a Montreal Star report, poor officiating resulted in only the goaltenders left on the ice in a February 18 game between Montreal Westmount and the Quebec Bulldogs of Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL). Fred Brophy (Montreal) and Hall of Famer Paddy Moran (Quebec) exchanged scoring attempts, before Brophy beat Moran, while the latter and most of the spectators "convulsed in laughter".[6] Brophy repeated the feat a year later on March 7, 1906, by skating the length of the ice to score on goaltender Nathan Frye of the Montreal Victorias of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA).[2]

The first goaltender credited with an assist in the NHL was Georges Vezina in the 1917–18 season, after a puck rebounded off his leg pad to a teammate who skated the length of the ice to score.[7] In the 1935–36 season, Tiny Thompson became the first goaltender to gain an assist after making an intentional pass.[8] During the Second World War, while playing for the All-Star Canadian Army team, goaltender Chuck Rayner carried the puck down the ice and beat the opposing goaltender, Art Jones. In the NHL, he made numerous unsuccessful attempts to duplicate this feat;[9] as a member of the New York Rangers, Rayner attempted to score both by aiming at an empty net and by rushing down the rink. There are at least two recorded instances of him skating to the other side of the ice after making a save,[10] and he was experimentally used on the point during power-plays in late 1940s.[10]

In the 1976–77 season, Los Angeles Kings goaltender Rogie Vachon briefly became the first goaltender to be credited with a goal when the opposing New York Islanders scored on themselves during a delayed penalty; however, after video review, the goal was given to Vic Venasky as it was determined that he was the last Kings player to touch the puck before it went in the net.[11] A similar case occurred in 1987 when the Islanders' Brent Sutter scored on his own net during a delayed penalty; the cross-town rival Rangers' Bob Froese was credited with the goal, briefly becoming the second goaltender to have been credited with an NHL goal. Later video review concluded that Froese had not touched the puck at all, and the goal was awarded to David Shaw.[12]

The first goaltender to score a goal by intentionally shooting the puck into the opponent's net was the Philadelphia Flyers' Ron Hextall, who on December 8, 1987, scored on an empty net after Boston pulled their goaltender, Rejean Lemelin, for a sixth attacker late in the third period.[13] The most recent goaltender to have scored a goal by deliberately shooting the puck into his opponents' net was Filip Gustavsson on October 15, 2024.

Of the eighteen goals scored by NHL goaltenders, eleven were shot into the opposing team's net by the goaltender. Two goaltenders have scored a goal and earned a shutout in the same game. Damian Rhodes, playing for the Ottawa Senators, was credited with a goal in a 6–0 win over the New Jersey Devils on January 2, 1999, and Jose Theodore, playing for the Montreal Canadiens, shot the puck into the New York Islanders' empty net in a 3–0 victory on January 2, 2001,[14] exactly two years later. Theodore's shot was the only backhand of the eleven. He is also the most recent goaltender to have scored a goal by deliberately shooting the puck without kneeling on the ice. In addition to being the first goaltender to be credited with a goal, Billy Smith was the only goaltender to have scored in a game that he lost.[14]

Chris Mason, Damian Rhodes and Tristan Jarry are the only goaltenders to be credited with a goal in both the AHL and the NHL.[15] Of the 18 goals, the New Jersey Devils franchise has been involved in six of them, three goals for (highest total) and three goals against (highest total), including the first ever goaltender goal when scored on in their previous incarnation as the Colorado Rockies.

While both Ron Hextall and Martin Brodeur have scored more than one goal, Hextall is the only goaltender to score twice by directly shooting the puck into the opponent's net. Brodeur's second and third goals were own goals by the other team, where Brodeur received credit for touching the puck last. Brodeur's second goal is the only game-winning goal scored by a goaltender.[16] Hextall and Brodeur both scored in a playoff game as well as a regular season game.[14] Hextall's second goal is the only goal scored by a goaltender while his team was short handed,[17] and Evgeni Nabokov and Martin Brodeur are the only goaltenders who scored on a power play[18] until Gustavsson's goal on October 15, 2024. Martin Brodeur is the only goaltender to score against another goaltender, when he scored against Dan Ellis on his third career goal, although Ellis was on his way to the bench for an extra attacker on a delayed penalty call and failed to make it back to the net in time to prevent the puck from entering the goal. Brodeur is also the only goaltender who has both scored an empty net goal while the opposing goaltender was on the bench, as well as having been the goaltender on the bench when another goaltender was credited with a goal.

Mike Smith was the next goaltender to score a goal in the NHL, which he managed to do in a 5–2 victory of the Phoenix Coyotes over the Detroit Red Wings on October 19, 2013. He scored the goal with only 1/10 of a second left in the third period. He is the first goaltender to score a goal in the NHL with the Turco grip when the catching glove was overhand on the stick. He is also the only goaltender to be credited with a goal in both the NHL and the ECHL, having scored a goal as a member of the Lexington Men O' War on October 26, 2002, against the Dayton Bombers.[19]

Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators scored on a shot at an empty net during a 5–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on January 9, 2020.[20] Rinne's goal made the Predators the only franchise with multiple goal-scoring goaltenders, after Chris Mason accomplished the feat for Nashville in 2006.

Scorers

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Key
Symbol Meaning
Goaltender scored goal directly with an intentional shot on goal (SOG)
SOG Shot on goal: puck was shot by the goaltender into the opponent's net
PPG Power-play goal
SHG Short-handed goal
GWG Game-winning goal
DP Goal scored on delayed penalty
Bold name Goaltender currently (2024–25) active in the NHL
Bold score Goal was scored at home
(#) Number of goals scored in career, when more than one
Name Team Season Date Opposing team Pulled goaltender Method of scoring goal[21] Final score Notes
Billy Smith New York Islanders 1979–80 November 28, 1979 Colorado Rockies Bill McKenzie[22] Own goal (Rob Ramage) 4–7 44:50,[23][24] DP
Ron Hextall Philadelphia Flyers 1987–88 December 8, 1987 Boston Bruins Reggie Lemelin SOG 5–2 58:48[25]
Ron Hextall (2) Philadelphia Flyers 1989 playoffs April 11, 1989 Washington Capitals Pete Peeters SOG 8–5 58:58, SHG
Chris Osgood Detroit Red Wings 1995–96 March 6, 1996 Hartford Whalers Sean Burke SOG 4–2 59:49
Martin Brodeur New Jersey Devils 1997 playoffs April 17, 1997 Montreal Canadiens Jocelyn Thibault SOG 5–2 59:15
Damian Rhodes Ottawa Senators 1998–99 January 2, 1999 New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur Own goal (Lyle Odelein) 6–0 08:14, DP
Martin Brodeur (2) New Jersey Devils 1999–2000 February 15, 2000 Philadelphia Flyers Brian Boucher Own goal (Daymond Langkow) 4–2 49:43, GWG, DP
Jose Theodore Montreal Canadiens 2000–01 January 2, 2001 New York Islanders John Vanbiesbrouck SOG 3–0 59:51
Evgeni Nabokov San Jose Sharks 2001–02 March 10, 2002 Vancouver Canucks Peter Skudra SOG 7–4 59:12, PPG[26]
Mika Noronen Buffalo Sabres 2003–04 February 14, 2004 Toronto Maple Leafs Trevor Kidd Own goal (Robert Reichel) 6–4 59:17
Chris Mason Nashville Predators 2005–06 April 15, 2006 Phoenix Coyotes David LeNeveu Own goal (Geoff Sanderson) 5–1 50:47, DP
Cam Ward Carolina Hurricanes 2011–12 December 26, 2011 New Jersey Devils Johan Hedberg Own goal (Ilya Kovalchuk) 4–2 59:30
Martin Brodeur (3) New Jersey Devils 2012–13 March 21, 2013 Carolina Hurricanes Dan Ellis[a] Own goal (Jordan Staal) 4–1 03:54, PPG, DP
Mike Smith Phoenix Coyotes 2013–14 October 19, 2013 Detroit Red Wings Jimmy Howard SOG 5–2 59:59[b][27]
Pekka Rinne Nashville Predators 2019–20 January 9, 2020 Chicago Blackhawks Corey Crawford SOG 5–2 59:38[20]
Linus Ullmark Boston Bruins 2022–23 February 25, 2023 Vancouver Canucks Arturs Silovs SOG 3–1 59:12[28]
Tristan Jarry Pittsburgh Penguins 2023–24 November 30, 2023 Tampa Bay Lightning Andrei Vasilevskiy SOG 4–2 58:52[29]
Filip Gustavsson Minnesota Wild 2024–25 October 15, 2024 St. Louis Blues Jordan Binnington SOG 4–1 59:51, PPG[30]
Notes
  1. ^ Ellis had not yet reached the bench to be replaced by an extra attacker during an attempt to return to stop the puck. The goal was therefore credited as an official goal against Ellis instead of an empty-net goal.
  2. ^ Replay footage confirmed that the goal was scored with 0.1 seconds remaining in the third period.

See also

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Bibliography

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  • Allen, Kevin; Bower, Johnny (2002). Without Fear: Hockey's 50 greatest goaltenders. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-57243-484-4. OCLC 49936232.
  • Duplacey, James; Diamond, Dan (2000). The Official Rules of Hockey. Globe Pequot. ISBN 978-1-58574-052-9.
  • "NHL firsts and lasts—goaltenders to score". NHL. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  • Weir, Glenn (1999). Ultimate Hockey. Stoddart. ISBN 978-0-7737-6057-8.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rule 27—Goalkeeper's Penalties". NHL. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Weir, p. 49.
  3. ^ Duplacey and Diamond, p. 187.
  4. ^ Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 83.
  5. ^ "Rule 78—Goals". NHL. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  6. ^ Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 117.
  7. ^ Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 187.
  8. ^ Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 51.
  9. ^ Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 219.
  10. ^ a b "Chuck Rayner". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  11. ^ UPI (February 17, 1977). "Vachon Didn't Score Goal". The Montreal Gazette. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2010 – via Google News.
  12. ^ "Froese Loses Credit For Scoring Goal". New York Times. December 5, 1987. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  13. ^ Allen, Duff, Bower; p. 66.
  14. ^ a b c "NHL firsts and lasts—goaltenders to score". NHL. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  15. ^ "Goalie Mason scores, wins fifth straight as Preds top Yotes". April 15, 2006. Archived from the original on May 26, 2006.
  16. ^ "Martin Brodeur". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  17. ^ David Amber (May 13, 2008). "No shortage of playoff moments for the Broad Street Bullies". ESPN. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  18. ^ "Sharks pummel Canucks; Nabokov scores". CBC. March 11, 2002. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  19. ^ "ECHL Featured Alumnus – Mike Smith". Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Nashville Predators - Chicago Blackhawks - January 9th, 2020". NHL.com. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  21. ^ "The 12 Times NHL Goalies Scored Goals Themselves". June 4, 2012.
  22. ^ Hornick, Eric. "30th Anniversary of Billy Smith's Goal". Bleacher Report.
  23. ^ "The Leader-Post - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  24. ^ Vecsey, George (March 23, 1981). "For Islanders' Billy Smith, Thr (sic) Game Is a Job, The Goal Is His TurfF". New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  25. ^ "NHL Scores - Hockey Scoreboard". NHL.com.
  26. ^ "Sharks pummel Canucks; Nabokov scores". CBC.ca. March 11, 2002. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  27. ^ Brown, Jerry (October 20, 2013). "Goalie Smith scores in Coyotes' victory". NHL.com. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  28. ^ "Boston Bruins - Vancouver Canucks - February 25th, 2023". NHL.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  29. ^ "Pittsburgh Penguins - Tampa Bay Lightning - November 30, 2023". www.nhl.com. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  30. ^ "Minnesota Wild - St. Louis Blues - October 15, 2024". NHL.com. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.


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