Buffalo Sabres forward Ryan McLeod completed the hat trick with an awarded goal against the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the fifth player in NHL history to do so.
Trailing 3-2, the Carolina Hurricanes pulled goaltender Dustin Tokarski for an extra skater. McLeod, pursuing a loose puck in the attacking zone, had his stick snapped by a slash from Canes defenseman Brent Burns.
Referee Ghislain Hebert signaled for a penalty shot. With the goaltender pulled, that resulted in an awarded goal
Here’s Rule 25.1:
A goal will be awarded to the attacking team when the opposing team has taken their goalkeeper off the ice and an attacking player has possession and control of the puck (or would have gained possession and control) in the neutral or attacking zone, without a defending player between himself and the opposing goal, and he is prevented from scoring as a result of an infraction committed by the defending team.
The Sabres also made history during the game, becoming the first team since the 1965-66 season to have scored without recording a shot on goal during a 20-minute period. Carolina held Buffalo without a shot on goal in the third period, with the lone marker McLeod’s awarded empty-netter.
Referees for the game were Ghislain Hebert (#22) and Pierre Lambert (#25), with Scott Cherrey (#50) and Kyle Flemington (#55) on the lines.
