It’s every goalie’s worst nightmare.
A harmless looking shot from outside your own blue-line that dips, or bounces, and suddenly it’s in the back of the net.
Last night, Jonathan Bernier was on the receiving end of such a play, and though he’s hardly the first victim, and certainly won’t be the last, his gaffe won’t do him any favours going forward. For the first time since being brought to Toronto, he may not have the inside edge on the starter’s job.
That situation has yet to play itself out, but in the meantime here’s some other long-range goals to look at, which are much more entertaining to watch when they don’t happen to your team.
THE OTHER TIME BERNIER WAS SCORED ON FROM LONG RANGE
This was a battle of teams that were on seven-game losing streaks and the Leafs actually had a 1-0 after two periods and were going to start the third on the power play. Oliver Ekman-Larsson lofts one down the ice from just outside his own blue-line and it beats Bernier glove-side.
The Leafs would lose this game, 3-1, and then the next three before beating Edmonton to end an 11-game losing streak.
BRODEUR’S DEFLECTION
A classic. With Game 3 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals tied at one late in the second, Sandis Ozolinsh barely manages to break through New Jersey’s trap to send a puck in the Devils zone. Brodeur, one of the best puckhandlers the game has seen, went out to make a play and dropped his stick at a perfect angle for the puck to deflect through his legs and give the Mighty Ducks the lead.
Bob Cole’s call here is fantastic. You can check out Gary Thorne’s call here.
Anaheim was down 2-0 in the series, but would win this game in overtime. The Devils would eventually win in seven.
DAN CLOUTIER’S GAFFE
The 2002 Detroit Red Wings were a juggernaut that would eventually win the Stanley Cup in five games over the Carolina Hurricanes.
But in the first round they were actually in a pretty big hole, dropping the first two games at home to the eighth-seeded Vancouver Canucks.
Tied with under 30 seconds to go in the second period of game three, Nicklas Listrom bombed one on goal and cleanly beat Dan Cloutier. The Red Wings would win 3-1, and the Canucks would never lead a game for the rest of the series, losing 4-2.
This goal probably defines Cloutier’s career in Vancouver, and also then-GM Brian Burke’s reputation for not being able to get a reputable netminder.
PAVELSKI’S GREAT TIP
This one’s perhaps the most defensible of all the plays on this list, as Joe Pavelski, standing just outside the Washington blue-line, makes a nice deflection on Dan Boyle‘s shot from centre.
Braden Holtby was in a pretty tough spot here, as he came quite close to making a flashy glove save I’m not sure anyone would have appreciated anyway.
TOSKALA COUGHS ONE UP
You really don’t need much of an introduction to the most infamous play of Vesa Toskala’s time in Toronto, a time that was spent making more than one infamous play.
Rob Davison took a “shot” that just wouldn’t settle down. That puck bounced at least six times. In Toskala’s defence it was the only goal he gave up that night, and the Leafs would win 3-1.
TIM THOMAS SWINGS AND MISSES
From 2006: Paul Martin tries to bank a pass off the boards, but it trickled down the ice harmlessly on goal. Thomas either mistimes it, or just completely forgets how to use his stick as it beats him five-hole. The recap for this game is notable because it mentions Scott Gomez breaking out of a scoring drought for his 25th goal of the season. If only they knew.
NIITTYMAKI CAUGHT NAPPING
This one came in just the fifth game of Sidney Crosby’s career, but a different rookie is featured in this highlight.
Max Talbot, who really just wants to get off the ice here, sends one down on Antero Niittymaki, who may or may not have been paying attention.
This goal tied the game at five, though the Flyers would win in overtime.
YET ANOTHER ROUGH PLAY BY BERNIER
Not to pile on, but this should be mentioned.
With just under seven minutes left in a tie game, a fluky play comes about in the first year of the NHL’s hybrid icing rule. Radek Dvorak does a good job of outracing Morgan Rielly to get the icing waived off, while Bernier takes a weak swipe at the puck that misses. It goes off his foot and in for the game-winning goal.
