Bizarre Goal Propels Dallas Stars Past Minnesota Wild

Antoine Roussel scored one of the oddest goals in the NHL on Friday night as his Dallas Stars took a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Wild.

Officials reviewed the goal to see if the net came off the moorings before the puck crossed the line. They ruled it a good goal. Hockey Operations cited Rule 78.4 to justify the ruling:

“The goal frame shall be considered in its proper position when at least a portion of the flexible peg(s) are still inside both the goal post and the hole in the ice.”

Former goalie Martin Biron said he did not think it should count.

“I wasn’t sure it crossed the line. I had a feeling that I might get it reversed,” Roussel said after the game. “[Dubnyk] just pushed off the net in those circumstances. That’s good for us, and I was so happy. That was a big goal for us.”

The Wild kept the pressure on Kari Lehtonen, but he would not relent. He quickly stopped a shot from Mikko Koivu with less than 30 seconds left in the game.

Captain Jamie Benn gave his team their second goal on a breakaway about halfway through the third period.

Marco Scandella cut the lead to one with a power play goal only two minutes later.

Despite the loss, the Wild remain optimistic, especially since the Stars dominated them in Game 1.

“Overall our game was a lot better, and that’s a good sign,” explained Koivu. “We came up short, but if we keep getting those kinds of chances, and we can create with putting pressure on their [defense], I believe it’s a matter of time that we get rewarded too, and get some goals, and hopefully get the lead.”

The teams will play Game 3 on Monday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.