The Nashville Predators held a 2-1 lead heading into the third period of Game 4, and it didn't them long to add an insurance goal.
Filip Forsberg gave his team a 3-1 lead over the visiting Vancouver Canucks just 12 seconds into the final frame.
The only issue? Even Forsberg wasn't sure he had actually scored after the puck was in the back of the net.
Forsberg's goal came after Ryan McDonagh collected his own rebound and then threw it out front from behind the net. The puck went off the inside of Forsberg's right skate, then into the net.
The Predators forward appeared to angle his skate blade so that the puck would deflect in past Canucks goaltender Arturs Silvos. Forsberg didn't even celebrate initially until he saw the referee point toward the net indicating a good goal.
Forsberg's insurance goal was not reviewed and play resumed.
Kicking goals are not covered by a coach's challenge, so any review would have had to come from the NHL's situation room.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the league was satisfied that Forsberg "directed" the goal in and it was not a kicking motion.
According to 49.2 in the NHL rule book, "a puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player’s skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal."
After falling down 3-1 after the goal, the Canucks stormed back to force overtime with just eight seconds remaining in the third.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.