When a team is having trouble scoring, it might be best to start shooting the puck, regardless of where it is from.
For the second time this season, the Sabres have taken a shot from beyond center ice that has found a way into the net.
If you recall, the first happened back during the second game of the season, when Ryan O’Reilly dumped one in that beat Edmonton Oilers‘ goaltender Cam Talbot.
Then, last night, Jake McCabe took a shot from just beyond center ice that was deflected by Johan Larsson. The puck took an odd bounce and got by Henrik Lundqvist just 18 seconds into the opening period.
These two lucky goals are certainly ones that both goaltenders would like to have back, but we can’t forget about one other one that happened almost three years ago.
On December 23rd, 2013 the infamous “butt goal” happened during overtime against the then Phoenix Coyotes. Mark Pysyk took a shot that ended up in the waistband of Mike Smith, and he carried into the back of the net.
These types of goals happen in the rarest of instances, but the Sabres will take them any way they can get them.