There are strange goals in hockey, and then there are the strange goals that completely change the momentum of a game.
Case in point: Carl Hagelin’s backhand shot (see the video here) that beat Boston Bruins’ goalie Tuukka Rask, who just, kind of, well, fell over on his own just as the shot was being taken.
The goal got the New York Rangers on the board, when they were trailing 2-0 early in the second period of a must-win game.
The Rangers went on to win the game in overtime, staving off elimination and forcing a Game 5 in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
“We gained a lot of energy and confidence after that and the game changed. It really did,” said Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist, as per a tweet from Katie Strang from ESPN.
Lundqvist then added that goal, "...probably the ugliest goal I’ve ever seen.”