Patrik Stefan: The anti-Ovechkin

Ooops


I just burst out laughing in my living room.

With 10 seconds remaining in the game and his team leading 5-4, Dallas Stars forward Patrik Stefan bobbled the puck as he approached an empty net alone, fell over and failed to score. The Oilers' Jarret Stoll then lobbed the puck to the other end of the rink where Ales Hemsky scored with two seconds remaining.

"That's the most embarrassing thing I've seen on the National Hockey League ice," colour commentator Ray Ferraro said afterwards.

Unbelievable.

If you haven't seen it, get your hands on a highlight reel because Stefan's goof is going to be remembered as one of the worst all-time gaffs in hockey history.

UPDATE I can't for the life of me find a picture of this event taking place, but it occurred to me: What photographer would take the shot of Patrik Stefan scoring an empty-net goal?

All I know is that the video evidence will hit the web by sometime tomorrow morning.

UPDATE A few short hours after it happened, YouTube has it for your viewing pleasure.

UPDATE HockeyNutz has a list of a few other notable hockey blunders. (Help him out by mentioning the Dan Cloutier incident a few times in the comments section.)

UPDATE A description from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News:

...the play that might garner NHL infamy was Stefan's miss. After playing one of his best games in a Stars uniform, Stefan was walking in for what would have been his second goal. But just a few feet from the goal, the puck bounced away and he fell.

Edmonton then moved quickly, and Hemsky took a pass while flying down the slot. He went backhand on Turco and got the Oilers a point in the standings.

"At least we turned a disaster into a debacle," (Oilers coach Craig) MacTavish said.