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Visit us at www.hockeyden.net and check out the 2008-09 Upper Deck Series 2 box break! Then enter to win your choice of a card from the break (Patrick Roy Jersey card anyone?)! It’s a Mitch Fritz-tastic break!!
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There is no more embarrassing play in sports, and probably no time when a player in a team sport feels more alone! In a game where scoring on the opposition is paramount, scoring on your own net is a knife in the gut, helping the other team and letting down your own all in one fell swoop. Like the title of the article says, sure you have a hot date (scored) but it’s your cousin!

As ugly as it is, it does happen, occurring in many ways, with many intentions, and with varying skill involved! Here’s a peek at some recent and past misfortunes.

10. Eric Brewer



Note to defensemen: sometimes your goalie doesn’t want your help, like when you cover the shooter in a two on one, knock down opposing defensemen onto him and…knock the puck he’s already saved into the net. Just sayin’…

9. Nicklas Backstrom:



Feel bad for Backstrom here as he’s just trying to clear it as quick as he could and BAM! Biscuit in the basket. Have to say though that the most annoying thing about this clip was Crosby’s little scream-fest. Tell me you were sucking helium on the bench or something as I’ve heard more manly noises coming from pre-pubescent girls watching a Jonas Brothers concert.

8. Ryan O’Byrne



True, the shortest distance between points A and B is a straight line. At the same time when your goalie isn’t in the net getting it around the boards is probably a better option! These moments must seem like a lifetime as the player is watching them happen…

7. Phillipe Furrer



Good news Phillipe! You’ve got a wicked backhand! Bad news is that you just tagged your goalie with it! What makes it even worse is that you’re the second guy on your team to score on your own net that game. I hope you boys treated your ‘tender to a few drinks after this one.

6. Shane O’Brien



Beautiful! Tikhinov causes the delayed penalty that allows O’Brien to score the goal that gets credited to Tikhinov! All planets aligned…

5. Marty Biron



Golden rule of breakouts: play the puck up the boards, not up the middle! Marty burned himself on that one, unfortunately scoring the winning goal on himself. Come to think of it, that sounds pretty nasty, doesn’t it? He “scored on himself”? Is that code for a lonely night alone at home?

4. Japanese Dude



You can sense how excited he is about such a gravy scoring chance, and how excited he is about the goal, and how…..oh crap!! I’d rank him higher except I feel kind of embarrassed for him! Kind of like this old timers game I saw once where some Timbit players came out to play with the old guys and Bobby Hull floats a shot from his own goal line down to the goal at the other end of the ice and scores on some 5-year-old. One feels guilty about laughing…

3. Bryan McCabe



Oh man, I felt bad for McCabe that season. Really horrible start to the year where he was snake bit to say the least. Same kind of play as Backstrom here, but you can’t cut him as much slack being a defenseman who should have a better sense of how to react in this situation. Too bad. Always liked the guy. Anyone else wonder what kind of forward he would have made? I would have loved to have seen it!

2. Niclas Wallin



Niclas, you get an extra attacker on the delayed penalty because your goalie is gone, ok?Oh man. He either thought there was a D behind him, trying to get a “not there” Ward to start the break out again or it was just a knee jerk reaction to the linesman being in his way. Whatever it was it was a nasty break. Kudos to the colour guy by trying to suggest it “slipped off his stick” but that slip sure looked like a pass!

1. Steve Smith



The worst of the bunch. Cost Edmonton the series and quite possibly the Cup, breaking the chance at 5 in a row also as they had won the two previous and two after. Again, up the boards, not up the mioddle. Yeah, you want to feed the winger, but at least get out in front of the net before doing it! Interesting note: This happened on his birthday…


Cheers!

Shawn Gates
shawn.gates@hockeybuzz.com
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
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Remember to visit us at www.hockeyden.net and check out the 2008-09 Upper Deck Series 2 box break! Then enter to win your choice of a card from the break (Patrick Roy Jersey card anyone?)! It’s a Mitch Fritz-tastic break!!
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Previous “Psychology of Sport” Articles

Arousal and Performance

Depression


Previous “Who Knew?” Articles

#1: Gordie Howe

#2: The Zamboni

#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

#4: Ron Hextall

#5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility

#6: The Puck

#7: Don Cherry


Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles

#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?

#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?

#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?

#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?

Join the Discussion: Chat Room » Message Board »

» The 09-10 Season at the Quarter Mark: My Impressions

» No Fighting? No Problem: Replacement Activities for Dropping the Gloves

» The Psycholgy of Sport: Depression

» "Who Knew?" #8: Cam Neely

» "Who Knew?" #7: Don Cherry