On Tuesday night, Filip Gustavsson joined an exclusive club of NHL goalies by scoring a goal in the Minnesota Wild’s 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Gustavsson is now the 15th goalie in NHL history to score, and the 10th to do so by shooting the puck directly into an empty net.
Throughout the history of the NHL, a total of 18 goals have been scored by goalies, with 16 during the regular season and two in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ten of those goals, including two by Ron Hextall, were direct shots into an empty net, while the others were credited to the goalie when they were the last player on their team to touch the puck before an opponent accidentally put it into their own net.
Gustavsson’s Goal: A Memorable Moment
During the game, Gustavsson gloved down a slap shot from Pavel Buchnevich in the neutral zone. With nine seconds left in the third period, he dropped to one knee and launched the puck down the ice into the empty net, securing the Wild’s victory. In addition to his goal, Gustavsson made 27 saves during the game.
Here’s a look at some of the other goalies who have scored in the NHL:
Tristan Jarry (Pittsburgh Penguins, November 30, 2023)
Jarry scored by lifting the puck from his crease into an empty net against the Tampa Bay Lightning, capping a 4-2 win. His shot reached a top speed of 55.76 mph and covered 148.7 feet in the air, while he also made 39 saves in the game.
Linus Ullmark (Boston Bruins, February 25, 2023)
Ullmark became the first Bruins goalie to score when he knocked down a dump-in and fired the puck into the empty net from above the hash marks. His goal sealed a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators, January 9, 2020)
Rinne’s goal helped secure a victory against the Chicago Blackhawks, making him the first Predators goalie to score. He sent the puck into an empty net from behind his goal line with 22 seconds left, sealing a 5-2 win.
Mike Smith (Phoenix Coyotes, October 19, 2013)
Smith scored with just 0.1 seconds left in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He made 31 saves before shooting the puck into the empty net in the final second of the game.
Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils, March 21, 2013)
Brodeur, one of the most decorated goalies in NHL history, scored his third career goal in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. This goal is unique because it’s the only time a goalie has scored against another goalie during a game.
Other Notable Goalie Goals:
- Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes, December 26, 2011)
- Chris Mason (Nashville Predators, April 15, 2006)
- Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose Sharks, March 10, 2002)
- Jose Theodore (Montreal Canadiens, January 2, 2001)
Ron Hextall was the first NHL goalie to shoot and score a goal, achieving the feat twice:
- December 8, 1987, vs. Boston Bruins
- April 11, 1989, in the playoffs vs. Washington Capitals
Billy Smith (New York Islanders, November 28, 1979)
Smith was the first goalie to ever be credited with a goal when his save led to a mishap by the Colorado Rockies, making history in the process.
