The NHL league average save percentage for the 2015-16 season is currently sitting at .915. Goals-against average is 2.47.
Goals get scored. Some are of the highlight reel variety, others less so, and some are just downright awful.
Let’s look back at some of the uglier goals scored in the last calendar year. Here are the 11 worst goals scored in the NHL during 2015.
11. Smith botches clearing attempt
Arizona Coyotes’ Mike Smith is one of the better puck-handling goaltenders in the NHL. He was the 11th goaltender in league history to score a goal.
This failed clearing attempt versus the Pittsburgh Penguins last season is hardly the best example of his work.
10. Bernier gets beat from centre ice
Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Jonathan Bernier experienced his share of ups and downs in 2015. The 27-year-old has been sharp since his return from an AHL conditioning stint with Toronto Marlies.
Bernier surrendered a long one to Derek Stepan in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers on November 15.
9. Andersen gets Bernier’d
The brotherhood of goaltenders takes care of its own.
Anaheim Ducks’ Frederik Andersen was not about to leave Bernier all alone in the long distance goal category.
8. Smith jumps with confusion
Smith’s second appearance in this list is a dandy.
The former Canadian Olympian actually jumps in some sort of attempt to stop Simon Despres’ tipped point shot in a March 3, 2015 game versus the Ducks. Smith is clearly confused when Andrew Cogliano redirects the puck, but still… jumping?
7. Luongo loses his footing, gives up a stinker
Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo ends up on his rear after he loses an edge in the crease. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov might score an easier goal than this one.
6. Ward caps unfortunate sequence by smashing his stick
Rangers forward Chris Kreider beats Carolina Hurricanes’ Cam Ward from a sharp angle and you better believe that stick is going to take a beating.
5. Orlov beats Pickard on a weird one
Here’s one that could qualify for both the best and worst goal of 2015 lists.
Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov dangles and collects his own rebound off of Colorado Avalanche goaltender Calvin Pickard…then things get weird.
No one, and I mean no one, realizes that Orlov still has the puck. The 24-year-old kicked off a three-game goal-scoring streak with this gimme.
4. Pavelec gives up game-winner from way out
Every goaltender gives up a bad one at some point. You just hope it doesn’t end up costing your team a game.
Ondrej Pavelec cost his team a win in a March 2015 game versus the St. Louis Blues when Barret Jackman beat him from centre ice with just over one minute left.
3. Luongo plays ‘follow the bouncing puck’ and loses
Luongo gives up hockey’s equivalent of a weak roller finding its way through a first baseman’s legs. Get your body in front of that biscuit!
2. Bernier turns in a mean Toskala impression
It’s not quite the near-200 footer that Vesa Toskala gave up on that fateful March night in 2008, but it’s a reasonable facsimile.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson kicks off the third period with a laugh when he flips one from almost his own blue-line past Bernier.
1. Maybe Crawford SHOULDN’T play the puck
If there’s a book on how a goaltender should play a dump-in on goal, it’s unlikely there’s a chapter depicting Chicago Blackhawks’ Corey Crawford attempting to handle this seemingly harmless “shot” by Brad Stuart.
