Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann (#74) thought he had his first NHL goal, but it wasn’t meant to be. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Bobby McMann’s dreams came true, then quickly taken away.
During the first period of Thursday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie, playing his second NHL game, thought he had scored his first career goal just seconds into the game. What seemed like an incredible story quickly turned into confusion for everyone in the arena and watching television.
McMann cleverly kicked the puck to take the close shot with his stick, but he hit Detroit defender Olli Maatta and was brought down in the back of the net. He then called himself back and it was ruled “no goal”.
Rule 49.2 of the NHL rulebook explains it a bit more: “An attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion to drive the puck into the net with his skate/foot may not score a goal,” the rule says. “A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player kicking a puck that deflects into the net of any player, goalkeeper or official.”
Since McMann deliberately kicked the puck in an attempt to get it to his stick and it came off Maatta and into the back of the net, it was correctly disallowed, even though it was accidental.
We all know how polarizing the kick move rule can be, but before this ruling, not many people knew it was illegal. As with any bizarre league decision, like the countless questionable goalie interference calls we get every season, the hockey world took notice.
McMann, 26, has eight goals and seven assists in 17 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Wainwright, Alta. native was named AHL Player of the Week on Monday after recording six points in his previous three games. He finished second to the Marlies last season with 24 goals.
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