Ryan Schmelzer backhanded the puck 150 feet into the opposing empty net, tying the game at 2-2 after a bizarre coaching decision in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- While the New Jersey Devils played the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Monday afternoon, their American Hockey League affiliate Utica Comets faced off versus the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical Arena.
A little over halfway into the first period, the Crunch held a 2-1 lead over the Comets. With two Utica Comets players in the penalty box, Syracuse prepared for a five-on-three power play.
Then, Joel Bouchard, head coach of the Crunch, made an interesting decision to pull his goaltender so his team had a six-on-three man advantage.
It was a decision that backfired as Comets' captain Ryan Schmelzer backhanded the puck 150 feet into the opposing empty net, tying the game at 2-2.
Schmelzer, 30, has 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 33 games this season.
The play-by-play announcer summed it up best, "Add that to the book. I have never seen that before, and I've watched a lot of hockey games in my life."
The Comets would eventually lose the game in overtime, 5-4.