Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg scored a goal off his skate in Game 4 against the Vancouver Canucks.
Early in the third period with the teams skating four-on-four, Preds captain Roman Josi fired a shot on goal from a sharp angle. Forsberg positioned his skate to deflect the rebound past Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs and into the net.
All of that is perfectly legal.
Two separate sections in the rulebook cover kicked in goals. First, the relevant portion of Rule 49 on Kicking:
A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net with his skate/foot.
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. A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking player’s skate shall be a legitimate goal as long as no distinct kicking motion is evident.
Rule 37, regarding video reviews, also includes a section on kicked goals.
Plays that involve a puck entering the net as a direct result of a “distinct kicking motion” shall be ruled NO GOAL. A “distinct kicking motion,” for purposes of Video Review, is one where the video makes clear that an attacking Player has deliberately propelled the puck with a kick of his foot or skate and the puck subsequently enters the net. A goal cannot be scored on a play where an attacking Player propels the puck with his skate into the net (even by means of a subsequent deflection off of another Player) using a “distinct kicking motion.”
A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking Player’s skate who does not use a “distinct kicking motion” shall be ruled a GOAL. A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking Players’ skate shall also be ruled a GOAL, as long as no “distinct kicking motion” is evident.
The play, which was reviewed by the NHL’s Situation Room, is not eligible for a coach’s challenge.
This one, unlike some of the other potentially kicked goals we’ve seen this season, seemed pretty straightforward. Forsberg is allowed to intentionally redirect the puck in – which he does. There’s no kick, no backswing, no follow-through. Forsberg’s right skate, which made contact with the puck, remains on the ice the entire time.
Even Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet agreed with the call after the game.
“Those types of goals should be allowed in the NHL,” Tocchet said. “They made the right call. 100%.”
After Forsberg’s goal the Canucks rallied to score three straight goals, en route to a 4-3 win. Referees for the game were Frederick L’Ecuyer (#17) and Chris Lee (#28) with Travis Gawryletz (#67) and David Brisebois (#96) on the lines.
