Leafs' Paul Ranger Punts Shootout Attempt, Highlights Wacky Weekend with Sabres

It might be the preseason, but the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres are certainly delivering a season's worth of entertainment. Sports Illustrated spotted this wacky moment from a rather eventful weekend shared between the Leafs and Sabres. 

In the waning moments of Saturday's game—one that had already featured three fights—a bevy of players attempted to end the game in a shootout. 

As the report notes, 30 shooters tried to thwart the goalie's defense, only to be sent away defeated. The lone shootout goal was scored by the Leafs' Jay McClement, but that was hardly the highlight of the game. 

The more memorable shot is seen here by Toronto's Paul Ranger, who thankfully infused some creativity into the relatively meaningless affair. 

Everyone in the building seemed eager to offer applause or a chuckle for the football punt of an attempt—minus Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth, of course. 

Ranger had more on his near-wonder goal: "I learned it when I was 10, 11 years old and I’ve been practicing ever since."

The defender continued, "I can rip it pretty good. I scored on it quite a few times at practice. I wish it would’ve gone in. I have no idea where it’s going and the goalie doesn’t either. I was kind of debating whether to try it, but I figured, what the heck, let’s try it."

Ah, that sounds like the world-renowned knucklepuck. 

Classic children's movies aside, the teams managed to continue the entertaining exchange on Sunday when a fracas broke out in the third period from Air Canada Centre. 

Now, we suggest you keep watching after the initial fight, because both teams were just biding their time in their respective corners until they were allowed to come out boxing once again. As soon as the whistle blew, they all came out swinging for an apparent hockey hootenanny. 

Something tells me these guys are just itching to get to the games that matter. 

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