Stars Take the Lead vs. Wild in Game 2 After Bizarre Goal Is Deemed Legal

Sometimes, all you need is a little luck.

Just ask the Dallas Stars' Antoine Roussel.

In the opening minutes of the second period of Saturday's Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild, Roussel was the beneficiary of some very good fortune. Dallas' Ales Hemsky redirected the puck behind the Minnesota net, where it bounced off Roussel's skate and up over the goal...and on to Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk's back.

As if that sequence of events wasn't crazy enough, chaos then broke out.

Dubnyk backed into the net and knocked it out of place. Of course, while doing so, the puck also made its way across the goal line. But with the net being moved, there was some confusion as to what the ruling should be.

Is it a goal or not? Here's the NHL's answer: "According to Rule 78.4, 'The goal frame shall be considered in its proper position when at least a portion of the flexible peg(s) are still inside both the goal post and the hole in the ice.'"

In other words, the puck crossed the goal line before the net was displaced. Light the lamp.

With that, Roussel recorded the first playoff goal of his career.

The Stars took a 1-0 lead and pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Wild. The series shifts to Minnesota, with Dallas holding a 2-0 lead.

[NHL]