Awarded goal

In ice hockey, an awarded goal is an unusual situation in which a goal is awarded to a team rather than scored. A penalty shot is a type of penalty awarded when a team loses a clear scoring opportunity on a breakaway because of a foul committed by an opposing player. The fouled player is given an attempt to score a goal without opposition from any defending players except the goaltender ("goalie"). However, when such a lost opportunity occurs and the opposing team has pulled its goalie to substitute an extra attacker, a goal is simply awarded without a penalty shot taking place.^[1] The assumption is that, if not for the foul, the goal would have been scored.

In the Deutsche Eishockey Liga and National Hockey League, a goal can also be awarded if the goaltender deliberately knocks the goalpost off its moorings to stop a breakaway.^[2][3]

A goal can also be automatically awarded during a penalty shot or a shootout, if the goaltender attempts to stop the attacker performing the penalty shot in an illegal manner.^[4]

See also

• Goaltending penalty in basketball
• Penalty try in rugby union and rugby league
• Unfair act in gridiron football

References

• Podnieks, Andrew (2007). The Complete Hockey Dictionary. Fenn Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55168-309-6.

1. Rule 25 – Awarded Goals, Official NHL rules
2. Leahy, Sarah (13 December 2017). "Another league changes its rules, thanks to David Leggio". NBCsports.com. NBC. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
3. NHL Public Relations (June 20, 2019). "NHL announces rule changes for 2019-20 season". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
4. "2018-19 NHL Official Rulebook" (PDF). NHL. Retrieved 3 March 2019. Rule 25.4: Infractions – During the Course of a Penalty Shot: "A goal will be awarded when a goalkeeper attempts to stop a penalty shot by throwing his stick or any other object at the player taking the shot or by dislodging the goal (either deliberately or accidentally)."