Evgeny Kuznetsov tallies assist from penalty box due to weird NHL rule

February 19, 2018 6:13 pm

John Carlson scored a goal in the second period with helpers from TJ Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Although this might seem like a normal occurrence, Kuznetsov’s assist came while he was in the penalty box. Let’s explain.

Carlson’s goal came thirteen minutes and 33 seconds into the second period. With Sabres goaltender Chad Johnson off to the side of the net, Carlson hit the puck with the hope that it would cross the line. On the ice, the refs called it a no goal after Kyle Okposo kicked the puck out of the net.

Soon after, Kuznetsov took a tripping penalty on Evan Rodrigues.

When play was called dead, Oshie asked the officials to review the goal, confident the puck crossed the line before Okposo touched it.

As the goal was called good, the twenty seconds between the goal and when play stopped were put back on the clock. Due to a weird NHL rule, Kuznetsov’s penalty would still be valid even though the play didn’t happen. (Officially, the goal and penalty both occured at 13:33 of the second period.)

This play fits into NHL rule 78.6, according to Pat Malacaro, the play-by-play broadcaster for the Sabres.

Direct from the NHl rule book, on the Capitals still being assessed the minor penalty, despite the goal counting. #Sabres pic.twitter.com/8yk87adzew

— Pat Malacaro (@PatWGR) February 19, 2018

The highlighted part of the rule reads:

Any penalties signaled during the period of time between the apparent goal and the next stoppage of play shall be assessed in the normal manner, except when a minor penalty is to be assessed to the team scored upon, and is therefore nullified by the scoring of the goal.

While the Capitals killed off Kuznetsov’s penalty, he now holds the honor of tallying an assist from the box.