What’s with all the weird goals?

As much as I enjoy watching the Leafs perish, I’m an honest hockey fan; it always annoys me when bad refereeing or bad luck decide a game. Thursday night, a freak bounce off the boards proved to be the difference as Toronto lost 3-2 to Carolina. The goal had shades of Vesa Toskala in it, and as Jonathan Bernier looked down to the ice in embarrassment, my laughter turned into confusion.

Bernier has been one of the hottest goalies early this season. He has posted an outstanding 1.98 goals against average thus far while boasting a .940 save percentage and a 4-2 record (including the loss to Carolina). He has made some highlight reel saves and all but pushed James Reimer out of the net. Point is, Bernier is no Vesa Toskala or Michal Neuvirth, both of whom let in freakish half-court shots that they must relive in their sleep every night.

And this isn’t the first freakish goal we’ve seen this season. Jonathan Quick let in an awful goal when he tried to play a clearance and directed it into his net. Roberto Luongo also had a puck dribble between his skates and trickle in, leaving Luongo on his ass and Montreal Canadiens fans cheering. Bernier, Quick and Luongo are top goalies in the league, the last two proven starters. Normally one or two freak goals occur every year and TSN will do a top 10 NHL bloopers or something like that. The season is barely two weeks old and there have already been three freak bounces that have embarrassed some of the top goalies. What gives?

Goalies have been using smaller pads this year which could be a reason. The league wanted more goals to be scored but I don’t think this was the nature of the goals they had in mind. It’s always possible that goalies are still adjusting to losing up to a few inches of pad. But these are professionals and have been training all summer. It would be surprising if that were the reason.

Another could be ice quality. Players would never complain about ice, but often commentators have mentioned that the puck has been taking odd bounces off the ice and boards. This could be due to the popularization of hockey arenas for large events such as concerts. The Bell Centre is a sacred war ground where religious battles take place, and it should not be sullied by unbelievers. Games will often be played the day after a big concert, and the ice quality can affect the game. I understand the business end of it all, but if the game is going to take a hit because of it there has to be another way.

Maybe the fluke goals have just been an anomaly. I’ve seen my fair share of lucky goals, but when three happen in the first two weeks of the season it just raises some questions. All three crucial goals and all on top goalies smells a little fishy. I’m sure goalies will be extra cautious from here on in – maybe come out of their creases a little less and follow the puck when their defenseman has it behind the net. Somehow though I’m sure that Quick, Luongo and Bernier won’t be known for their bad goals the way Toskala is.

Edit: Another goalie who has started hot this season is Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Just hours after this article was published he let in another weird goal, allowing Alex Edler to score on a slap shot from centre ice. For this one though, we might just chalk it up to Fleury being Fleury.