The Buffalo Sabres set (or at least tie) an NHL record tonight.

[TrufleShufle]

Probably the ugliest hat trick anyone’s ever scored in the NHL (a shot from barely inside the zone that the goalie should’ve stopped, a weird chip-in right off a faceoff, and…whatever this is lol).

They don't ask how, they ask how many. Unless they see no shots were taken, then they ask how.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

I’m curious, would this be the only situation where you could score a goal with 0 shots in a period?

My understanding is that “own goals” get recorded as a shot. Same thing with a shots that go wide and carom back off the goalie.

So in other words, you need the combination of 0 shots in a period - which only happens maybe 2 or 3 times in an entire 1312 game slate - and then an automatically awarded goal on an empty net, again which is not unheard of but only occurs a few times in a season.

I’m no mathematician, but thems some freaky long odds.

 

[CaptainShark]

So The Great One was wrong…

 

[red devil]

 

[tarheelhockey]

Now hang on a second, who’s wrong here?

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

Now hang on a second, who’s wrong here?

Wings and Habs were in OT. Sabres first to do it in regulation.

 

[McFlash97]

forget Efficiency, It's now known as a Bufficiency

 

[syz]

Does anyone happen to know when the "awarded goal" rule for situations like this came into effect? All I can find is the "throwing your stick" rule change.

1947-48 Goal awarded when a player with the puck has an open net to shoot at and a thrown stick prevents the shot on goal. Major penalty to any player who throws his stick in any zone other than defending zone. If a stick is thrown by a player in his defending zone but the thrown stick is not considered to have prevented a goal, a penalty shot is awarded. All playoff games played until a winner determined, with 20-minute sudden-death overtime periods separated by 10-minute intermissions.

 

[TheNumber4]

That's really an insane stat.

I could see this turning Buffalo's season around. Something has to right? Anyways Go Sabres, cheering for Clouder.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Wings and Habs were in OT. Sabres first to do it in regulation.

Ahh I see.

So, that struck me as odd because scoring an OT goal without a shot on goal would require a very specific set of circumstances. I decided to look into them, and sure enough — they’re both scorekeeping errors.

Montreal’s OT goal on 3/16/16 clearly should have been registered as a shot on goal.



I don’t think any video exists of Young’s goal on 1/22/1986, but the newspaper description makes it very clear that it was a direct shot past the goalie:

My guess is that in both cases, the scorekeeper started packing up after the OT goal without remembering to add one last shot. These ought to be corrected in the NHL database, but I wouldn’t even know who to inform (@seventieslord have any idea?)

It would appear that Buffalo’s achievement tonight was indeed a singular instance in NHL history and quite possibly pro hockey history. It’s an intersection of two very unusual events.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

That's really an insane stat.

I could see this turning Buffalo's season around. Something has to right? Anyways Go Sabres, cheering for Clouder.

Some say there is a curse upon the Buffalo people, and only when goals are scored with no shooter or shots shall their powers be regained. Also, no palm trees.

 

[HaNotsri]

I’m curious, would this be the only situation where you could score a goal with 0 shots in a period?

My understanding is that “own goals” get recorded as a shot. Same thing with a shots that go wide and carom back off the goalie.

So in other words, you need the combination of 0 shots in a period - which only happens maybe 2 or 3 times in an entire 1312 game slate - and then an automatically awarded goal on an empty net, again which is not unheard of but only occurs a few times in a season.

I’m no mathematician, but thems some freaky long odds.

Some I've seen: Pass into own net, rebound or blocked shot in defensive zone bouncing back into empty net.

 

[MessierII]

Some I've seen: Pass into own net, rebound or blocked shot in defensive zone bouncing back into empty net.

One time on a delayed penalty I had the puck behind my net and went for a stretch pass but hit my own guy who was randomly skating through the middle into my own net

 

[tarheelhockey]

Some I've seen: Pass into own net, rebound or blocked shot in defensive zone bouncing back into empty net.

Counterintuitive as it may be, all of those would be counted as a shot on goal.

@Hank Chinaski there are a surprisingly large number of circumstances where a goal can be awarded without a shot taken.

Ones that can happen with the goalie in the net:
- Goalie deliberately displaces the net during a breakaway

Ones that require the goalie to be pulled first:
- Player fouled on an empty net breakaway (the most common)
- Stick or equipment thrown to block the puck
- Net deliberately knocked off the posts
- Goalie leaves equipment in the crease, or stacks snow in the crease, while he heads to the bench
- Skater covers or picks up the puck in the crease
- Player enters the playing area illegally (ex: too many men) and interferes with the opposing team while they’re in the neutral or attacking zone

In any of these scenarios, the opposing team would be credited with a goal on 0 shots.