There have been a lot of great goals in NHL history but some, well, shouldn't even have been a goal in the first place.
We're at a point with technology where fluky goals shouldn't make their way to the scoreboard but once upon a time, goal reviews weren't as advanced. Heck, there are still even questionable calls with it around being made today! So with that in mind, let's take a look at some questionable goals that in hindsight, definitely shouldn't have counted.
BRETT HULL FOOT IN THE CREASE
There was no way we could have kicked this list off with a different goal. The NHL had a rule in place which prohibited players from entering the crease. Hull, whose toe was clearly in the blue paint, put home the Stanley Cup ckincihing overtime goal in Game 6 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals against the Buffalo Sabres.
The NHL's Supervisor of Officials Bryan Lewis provided this explanation afterward:
Thw following is an excerpt from bleacherreport.com.
"A puck that rebounds off the goalie, the goal post or an opposing player is not deemed to be a change of possession, and therefore Hull would be deemed to be in possession or control of the puck, allowed to shoot and score a goal even though the one foot would be in the crease in advance of the puck...Hull had possession and control of the puck. The rebound off the goalie does not change anything. It is his puck then to shoot and score albeit a foot may or may not be in the crease prior to."
Uh... okay? We all know how Lindy Ruff felt about it afterward:
TIMO MEIER HAND PASS TO ERIK KARLSSON
This one was less controversial, but definitely more of a head-scratcher. Meier clearly hand-passed the puck to Gustav Nyquist before he dished it off to Karlsson for the OT winner. Just a missed call, and one that we can't believe wasn't overturned.
MATT DUCHENE OFFSIDE GOAL
If you're a hockey fan, then you know what we're talking about. It led to the beginning of the NHL's offside review for crying out loud!
GRETZKY HIGH-STICK ON GILMOUR, SCORES RIGHT AFTER
Leafs Fans are all too familiar with this one. The Great One appeared to high-stick Dougie Gilmour in the face during Gmae 6 of the Western Conference Finals but after discussions between Kerry Fraser and his officials, no penalty was ultimately called. Roughly a minute later, Gretzky scored and the Kings knocked off the Buds 5-4.
This one wasn't on the actual goal... but still. Ouch!
JETS SCORE AFTER LTIERALLY THROWING THE PUCK IN THE CREASE
This one is definitely the funniest of the bunch. Jets forward Nelson Emerson literally cupped the puck, skated with it, and then dropped it in the crease. Not only did it not cross the line, but he so clearly carried the puck that Daryrl Sutter ran onto the ice to yell at the referees. The Jets won the game 1-0 in overtime...
Haha!
These are just five of the most controversial goals in NHL history. Which do you think is the most of the bunch?