MOST UNUSUAL NHL GOAL OF THE YEAR, IF NOT OF ALL TIME

Phoenix goalie scores Buffalo's game-winning goal on himself when he backs into the goal with the puck stuck in the back of his pants

In Monday night’s ice hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and Phoenix Coyotes, the game went into overtime with the score tied at one apiece. With only a little over a minute remaining in the five-minute overtime period, Buffalo players attacked the Phoenix goal. Coyote goalie Mike Smith came out of his goal crease to block a shot by Mark Pysyk of the Sabres.

Pysyk’s shot rebounded up into the air. Smith, having lost sight of the puck, turned around and headed back to the goal when the puck came down and landed in the back of his pants. Not knowing where the puck was, Smith spun around and backed into the goal preparing to defend it in case Buffalo got the puck back.

Unfortunately for Smith, by backing into the goal with the puck stuck in his pants, he scored on himself. Some are calling it a buttgoal. Whatever you want to call it, that goal ended the game with last place Buffalo winning for only the 10th time in 37 games so far this season.

As an avid ice hockey fan I’ve watched hundreds of games. Of course, goalies get scored on all the time and I’ve seen some unusual goals over the years. But this one by Mike Smith has got to be the most unusual goal of the year, if not of all time.