NHL Shockers: Vesa Toskala and the 50 Most Embarrassing Goals in Hockey History

One cannot expect their team goaltender to stop every puck, every time. However, there are some instances where the goaltender is really expected to stop the puck.

If a goal goes in from a certain spot on the ice or certain lengths away, that would be expected to be stopped. Sometimes there is a bad bounce or the goaltender just can't get it for whatever reason.

Those make this list.

Other embarrassing goals: own goals. The point of the game is to score on your opponent's net, not your own.

While all of these goals are frustrating for the teams that don't pick up a goal, as well as their fans, it does provide entertainment.

Here are the top 50 embarrassing goals in hockey.

50. Nicklas Lidstrom Versus Pekka Rinne

The setting is Game 6 of the Conference Quarterfinals in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The teams are the Nashville Predators and the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings have the series lead 3-2 and will move on to the next round with a win.

Nicklas Lidstrom was at center ice and shot the puck towards the net. Surely, no one, not even Lidstrom himself expected the puck to go in.

Except much to Pekka Rinne and Nashville's chagrin, the goal went in.

The Red Wings went on to win that game, thus eliminating Nashville from the playoffs.

49. Logan Couture Versus Jimmy Howard

Last year the San Jose Sharks faced the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Sharks' Logan Couture got this shot past the Wings' Jimmy Howard to score the goal.

How did Howard not make that save? It was just a poor angle and the puck found its way in.

48. Ron Francis Against Mike Richter

This goal was embarrassing mostly because during this 1992 playoff game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers, the Rangers had a 4-2 lead in the third.

The Penguins came back though and forced it into overtime, which is when this happened.

The puck almost got away from Ron Francis, but he got just enough of it to send it towards the net. Richter couldn't make the stop and the Penguins won.

47. Joe Nieuwendyk on Patrick Lalime

It was the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game seven between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.

Toronto's Joe Nieuwendyk had an excellent game, beating Ottawa goaltender Patrick Lalime twice to score two goals.

The first one, Lalime should have stopped. Sure, there was confusion in front of the net, but it seemed like he was blocking. 

The second one, I'm not sure how that went in.

46. Owen Nolan Versus Roman Turek

San Jose's Owen Nolan blasts a shot from the red line.

The puck sails past St. Louis goaltender Roman Turek, giving the Sharks a two-goal lead with only 10 seconds left in the game.

What a shot.

45. Igor Larionov Goal Against Grant Fuhr from the Blue Line

This may not be that embarrassing, considering the shot came from Detroit Red Wings legend Igor Larionov.

However, it was shot from the blue line, so one would be inclined to believe a goaltender should make those stops.

Especially a goaltender like Grant Fuhr.

44. Robert Lang Scores GWG Against Dallas

Robert Lang fired the puck at the net, but the goaltender made the save.

He fired the rebound back, it bounced back to him, went off his arm and into the net.

43. Nicklas Lidstrom Goal from Center Ice Against Dan Ellis

Nicklas Lidstrom is almost behind the logo in the middle of center ice.

Yet, his shot makes it past Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis.

This is a really bad goal to let in, even for Ellis. On the other hand, it is a really awesome goal for Lidstrom.

42. Patrick Kane Goal from Center Ice Against Pekka Rinne

This list is really starting to reflect poorly on Nashville goaltenders.

Here's Rinne again with a bad goal.

Chicago's Patrick Kane shoots this one past him from center ice.

Moral of this story: always be ready off the faceoff.

41. Mason Raymond from the Red Line Versus Miikka Kiprusoff

Vancouver's Mason Raymond dumps the puck from the red line, just trying to move it along for the next guy to shoot it.

He doesn't need any help on that one though, because it goes right past Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff into the net.

Kiprusoff looked like he didn't even realize it was coming toward him.

40. Northern Michigan Scores Own Goal on Empty Net

Northern Michigan pulled their goaltender in the hopes of tying their game versus Ferris State.

Unfortunately, when passing the puck, one of the Northern Michigan players passed a little too hard, sending the puck into their own empty net.

That's got to hurt.

39. North Dakota Player Scores from Behind His Own Net

The title of this video is "Longest Goal in Hockey History?" A better title, in my opinion, could be "Greatest Goal in NHL History?"

Minnesota has a power play, as well as a one-goal lead over North Dakota. UND player Robbie Binz clears the puck from behind their net...and ends up scoring the game-tying goal.

Not to be cliche, but bet Minnesota goaltender Jeff Frazee would like that one back.

38. Swiss Player Scores Own Goal Versus Russia

In the words of the commentator, "He could not do that again if he tried!"

If Filip Furr had not scored against his own goaltender.

It didn't matter too much, since Russia already had a five-goal lead. It just provides an excellent highlight.

37. Oklahoma City Blazers Player Scores from Own End of Ice

In a Central Hockey League game between the Memphis River Kings and Oklahoma City Blazers, Blazer Hardy Sauter scores a long goal.

Sauter sent the puck from the Blazers' zone down to the River Kings, it bounced awkwardly (possibly off of a River King) and it went past the goaltender.

This was also with just 10 seconds left in the game, giving the Blazers an insurance goal.

36. Scott Niedermayer Scores from Center Ice Against Jeff Hackett

The New Jersey Devils had a one goal lead over the Philadelphia Flyers with just over 30 seconds left in the first period.

Enter Scott Niedermayer.

Niedermayer shoots from center ice and the puck gets past Flyers goaltender Jeff Hackett.

35. KHL's Gennady Churilov Own Goal in Playoff Game

This video clip is in Russian, which I unfortunately do not speak, so I'm not sure exactly what is going on.

What is clear though, is that Gennady Churilov scored on his own empty net.

It also appears to come during a delayed penalty.

That has to hurt.

34. KHL's Alexander Radulov Own Goal in Playoff Game

Another own goal in the KHL playoffs. This time, Alexander Radulov puts the puck in his own net.

Like I said before, I don't speak Russian, but the commentator's response to that probably would have been my response too.

33. Nicklas Lidstrom Own Goal

Nicklas Lidstrom has already been featured on this list for a couple of goals from center ice.

This time, he's featured for an own goal he scored during a game against the New York Islanders December 31, 2010.

I think he's forgiven, though.

32. Peter Stastny Scores Goal from Center Ice Against Patrick Roy

The puck was loose and traveling on its own down the ice.

It seemed like it would be stopped, but it bounced past goaltender Patrick Roy, giving Peter Stastny a goal from center ice.

31. Ryan O'Byrne Own Goal

The New York Islanders visited the Montreal Canadiens on November 24, 2008.

With just under five minutes left in the third, the Canadiens had a one-goal advantage they were looking to protect. Unfortunately, their own player would score Montreal's game-tying goal.

A delayed penalty was being called on the Islanders, so Habs goaltender Carey Price went to the bench. Then, Ryan O'Byrne put the puck in the empty net.

30. Keith Ballard Own Goal

On this day last year, the Florida Panthers played the Ottawa Senators.

Florida Panther Keith Ballard scored a goal for the Senators.

Really, Ballard was trying to help there. He tried to bat the puck away and ended up putting it right into the net.

Just bad luck.

29. Alex Pietrangelo Goal from Center Ice Against Jonathan Quick

Just a couple weeks ago, March 17, the St. Louis Blues played the Los Angeles Kings.

Blues' Alex Pietrangelo scored a beautiful goal from center ice against Jonathan Quick. Pietrangelo was skating between center ice and the blue line and just launched a slap shot at Quick.

It bounced its way in.

28. Paul Coffey Own Goal in 1996 Playoffs

During Game one of the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings faced the Colorado Avalanche.

Detroit defenseman scored three goals in the game, but he didn't get a hat trick.

Why?

Only two were for his team. Coffey redirected a Stephane Yelle pass into his own net. Colorado went on to win the game, as well as the series.

27. Chris Phillips Own Goal in 2007 Stanley Cup Finals

Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips was going behind the net to get the puck from goaltender Ray Emery.

When Phillips went to bring the puck up the blue line, he somehow ended up sticking it in the net behind Emery instead.

26. Cory Sarich Scores Own Goal

On October 30, 2010, the Calgary Flames were playing the Washington Capitals.

Just under the halfway point of the second period, the Capitals had a two-goal lead. The Flames' Cory Sarich helped them extend that lead.

He scored on his own net.

25. Shane O'Brien Own Goal

Yet another own goal, on an empty net after a delayed penalty.

This time, the Vancouver Canucks' Shane O'Brien scores the own goal, on a Phoenix delayed penalty.

O'Brien tries to grab the puck to take into the Coyotes' zone, but instead sends it to the Vancouver empty net.

24. Niclas Wallin Own Goal

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled their goaltender during a delayed penalty. Niclas Wallin missed a shot against the Capitals goaltender, then sent the puck into Carolina's net.

That goal broke the tie and gave Washington the lead too.

23. Antii Niemi Gives Up a Very Slow Goal

This may be the slowest goal in NHL history.

J.P. Dumont "floated", in the words of the announcer, the puck towards Antii Niemi. Seems like Niemi should have had it, but he moved to the other side too quickly.

Who knew that not only could you beat a goaltender to the net, but you could outlast one at the net too?

22. Tomas Vokoun Lets in Goal from Center Ice

Radim Vrbata of the Phoenix Coyotes scored a goal from center ice against Tomas Vokoun.

That puck did have a bad bounce, but Vokoun should have been able to stop that.

21. Sebastian Caron Can't Make the Save

(Clip is at the :40 mark of the video)

Sebastian Caron misjudged this puck. He was just too far to the right to stop this puck traveling from center ice.

And so he became one of TSN's top 10 goaltending gaffes.

20. Antero Niittymaki

(Clip is at the :25 mark)

Right off the faceoff with eight minutes left in the third, the Pittsburgh Penguins scored a game-tying goal against the Flyers.

The faceoff was in center ice.

Once again, moral of the story: always be prepared off the faceoff.

19. Alexander Semin Scores OT GWG from Behind the Blue Line

The Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins went into overtime during a February 2009 game.

Just 22 seconds into OT, Capitals' forward Alexander Semin fired a slap shot from behind the blue line at Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas.

Thomas couldn't make the stop on Semin's lethal shot and the Capitals won.

18. Ty Conklin Can't Clear the Puck in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final

During Game one of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, Edmonton goaltender Ty Conklin attempted to clear the puck with just 31 seconds left in a tied game.

Unfortunately for Edmonton, he didn't give the puck to a teammate; he gave it to an opponent, who then scored on the empty net.

17. Erik Johnson Own Goal

I agree with the announcer, "heck of a shot by Johnson."  Johnson tries to clear the puck, but instead hits it straight into his goal.  The look on his face tells the story.

16. Roman Cechmanek Needs to Readjust

Cechmanek really needs to work on his adjustment skills.  That puck bounced right past him, unbelievable.

15. Bryan McCabe Scores on Own Net

You know you've done something terribly stupid when people take the time to mimic what you've done in a video game.  Here's McCabe scoring in his own net via simulation.

14. Marc Bergevin Own Goal

Bergevin literally throws the puck into his own net.  Hard to imagine being the goalie and being prepared for your teammate to throw with your change the puck into the goal.  Way to go Bergevin.

13. Corey Perry Own Goal

All the way, 200 ft, to his own goal.  At least it bounced off the other goal so he did not aim it straight at his own net.  

12. Jaroslav Halak Scores on Himself

There's been quite a few own goals on this list- teammates putting pucks past their own goaltenders. It's only fitting that there be a goaltender putting a puck past himself.

Enter Jaroslav Halak.

Halak attempts a stick save during a game versus Detroit back in November, but ends up knocking the puck into his own net.

11. Nicklas Backstrom Own Goal

During a March 2008 Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins matchup, it looked like it was headed to overtime.

The score was tied 2-2 with less than 30 seconds left. Then, Capitals' center Nicklas Backstrom deflected a puck into his own net.

I guess overtime wouldn't be necessary after all.

10. Steve Smith Own Goal

This is probably one of the oldest video footage of an own goal.

This is Edmonton's Steve Smith attempting to clear a puck, but mistakenly shooting it into his own net instead.

Maybe the goaltender should have cleared the puck himself.

9. Ryan Suter Own Goal(s)

This is obviously hard to back up, but I think Ryan Suter may be the only hockey player to score two own goals in one game.

Suter had a bad day on March 24 this year. Two pucks deflected into his own net off of him.

That's some serious bad luck.

8. Fedor Tyutin from Center Ice Against Chris Osgood

With all the center ice goals that Nicklas Lidstrom has scored against opponents, it seems only fair that the Red Wings would give up center ice goals as well.

Chris Osgood couldn't stop a Fedor Tyutin slapshot from center ice during a November 2008 game.

7. Jeff Schultz 190-Foot Goal on Ondrej Pavelec

This may be one of the longest and most embarrassing goals given up.

Washington's Jeff Schultz scored a 190-foot goal against Atlanta's Ondrej Pavelec on October 22, 2009.

The goal gave Washington the lead.

6. Chris Osgood Leaves the Net

(Clip at the 1:22 mark)

Chris Osgood leaves the net to go after the puck.

Unfortunately, San Jose recovers the puck and scores before Osgood can back to the net.

5. Martin Brodeur Lost His Stick

In the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, Martin Brodeur comes out of the net to make a save.

Except, he loses his stick and in doing so, knocks the puck behind him into the net.

4. Nicklas Lidstrom from Center Ice Against Dan Cloutier

In the 2002 playoffs versus Vancouver, Nicklas Lidstrom scored a memorable goal.

He shot from center ice and the puck sailed past Dan Cloutier, for a goal.

3. Dan Boyle Own Goal in 2010 NHL Playoffs

 This really doesn't need much of a description.

Last season, during overtime of the San Jose Sharks-Colorado Avalanche game, Dan Boyle put the puck into the Sharks net, winning the game for the Avalanche.

2. Patrick Roy Statue of Liberty Play

The play that has been dubbed the "Statue of Liberty."

Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, goaltender Patrick Roy made a glove save.

Then, he hoisted it up in the air to show it off...and dropped it into the net, giving Detroit the goal.

1. Vesa Toskala Allows 197-Foot Goal

Vesa Toskala has given up plenty of goals in his career. This is the one that everyone will remember though.

Rob Davison scored a 197-foot goal against Toskala.

Toskala should have had it, but the puck bounced and found its way into the net.