Jake Guentzel just put together one of the more incredible hockey goals you’ll ever see.
During Game 7 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers, Guentzel put the away team on top 2-1 after this absolutely absurd goal. With the Penguins on the power play, Guentzel found space all alone right in front to receive a pass, which he then kicked from his skate up in the air before batting it down into the Rangers net past Igor Shesterkin.
It was a hell of an athletic feat, to juggle the puck with precise hand-eye coordination in the way Guentzel did here for a mind-blowing goal. And yet, the goal wasn’t without controversy as it went to review after Guentzel possibly batted the puck in with his stick above the crossbar.
After review, however, the officials stated that the goal was good for the 2-1 Penguins lead.
This goal is insane. Jake Guentzel is insane. This game is insane. #StanleyCup | #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/UFXPBpEeiG
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 16, 2022
I get why the referees made the call they did, as it’s so hard to tell definitively with all the angles shown that Guentzel’s stick was above the crossbar. The NHL themselves issued a statement that video review even confirmed that his stick “was at or below the height of the crossbar” when he deflected the puck into the net.
The official word from the NHL on the 2nd period Jake Guentzel goal:
"Video review confirmed that Jake Guentzel's stick was at or below the height of the crossbar when he directed the puck into the Rangers net."@penguins @NYRangers #Game7
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 16, 2022
And yet, it’s so hard not to look at this angle and wonder if the right call was made.
Still, the Rule of Cool won out and at the end of the day, Guentzel’s goal counted!
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