It was the ugliest, weakest Cup-clinching goal in perhaps the history of Cup-clinching goals. We all know exactly what happened. Patrick Kane flies down the wing, gets below the dot, and throws a shot on net, likely hoping for a rebound or something to pop out in front where Andrew Ladd can bang it home.
Instead, it went in. The Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. (You have no obligation to watch this video.)
That damned five-hole. Get the paddle down faster next time you’re in overtime of the Cup Finals and you need to win or watch the other team celebrate on your ice, man.
That’s where our story ends up, last night in Los Angeles.
Leighton hadn’t played in a real NHL game since that Kane goal. What are the chances that the next goal he gives up in the NHL, SIX MONTHS LATER, is EXACTLY THE SAME F’N GOAL?
Oh, nah. That’s just too funny to be rea—- OH COME ON.
It’s a little different, but the mistakes are the same. Paddle isn’t down fast enough (or, in this case, at all), legs aren’t closed, he’s just… not ready. It’s a bit weirder of an angle on the shot, too. Ryan Smyth shoots it from below the goal line instead of the circle, but there’s obviously no reason that should’t be stopped.
Hey, at least nobody won a Stanley Cup on this one.
To be fair to Leights, there was a lot of time off, and he admitted that he sucked after the game. And even still, he did get much better as the game went on.
Hopefully this is just a silly coincidence and not a case of not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.
