Yes, own goals officially exist in the NHL

I had no idea until this week. So I did some research.

I learned something new this week watching Game 5 between the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche.

Own goals officially exist in the NHL.

I first noticed the “own goal” distinction in the NHL app on Kyle Connor’s first period goal, then looked at the official play-by-play sheet where it was also labeled an own goal.

On that goal, Connor shoveled the puck toward the front of the net where it was cleared by Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson right off his own teammate, Artturi Lehkonen, and went into the net.

Here is that play.

Later in the game Lehkonen was involved in another own goal, this time on the other end. He took a shot that was tipped and then effectively shot shot right into the Winnipeg net by Neal Pionk.

Here is the entry on the NHL’s official play-by-play.

And here is the video.

I’ve covered the NHL now in some shape or form since the 2011-12 season and in a so-called “full-time” capacity since the 2016-17 season. I had never seen nor noticed this before.

So I reached out to some folks from the NHL to get a better distinction on what it meant.

For starters, an own goal in hockey is similar to an own goal in soccer. But while in soccer the credit for the own goal goes to the defender who put the ball into his own net, the credit for a goal still goes to a player from the attacking team.

And for it to be an own goal, according to NHL officials, it has to be effectively propelled directly into the net without the help from the attacking team.

That’s why a deflection or tip off a defender aren’t own goals. Those pucks are still effectively shots by the other team.

But on plays like the ones from Game 5 in Winnipeg, the first goal has nothing to do with the Jets, and rather Manson shooting the puck off his own teammate. On the second goal, it was deemed by scorekeepers the Pionk effectively shot the puck into his own net, it wasn’t a deflection.

Own goals are goals that don’t count as shots, and you can’t add an assist on the play.

So, when these own goals happen they still count on the scoresheet and still count as a goal against for the goalie, but they do not count against the goalie’s save percentage.

For example, in Game 5, Alexandar Georgiev faced 36 shots and allowed three goals.

In theory, you’d figure out his save percentage as 33 divided by 36, for a .916 showing. But because own goals don’t count as shots, his official statistical line is 34 saves on 36 shots, for a .944 save percentage.

Here is official line from that game, it looks kind of wonky.

Connor Hellebuyck was in net for five goals against, but because one was an own goal, his save percentage from Game 5 is also calculated based on allowing four.

So instead of having allowed five goals on 31 shots, a .838 save percentage, his save percentage is actually based on 27 saves on 31 shots, a .871 showing.

Here is his line score.

NHL own goals have officially been tracked since the 2008-09 season.

According to NHL Stats and Research, since the stat has been tracked, Connor McDavid and Evander Kane lead the NHL with three credited own goals — goals they scored, but where actually scored by the other team.

Other players with multiple own goals in their career according to NHL Stats and Research include Clayton Keller, Conor Sheary, Dave Bolland, Elias Lindholm, Evgeni Malkin, Jarome Iginla, Joel Eriksson Ek, Jonathan Toews, Matthew Tkachuk, Nick Bjugstad, Patrick Marleau, Sam Ganger, T.J. Oshie, Travis Zajac, Troy Brouwer and Zach Hyman.

BrandonEffDub on Twitter scraped NHL play-by-play data to find there were 15 own goals this season in the NHL.

There were also two instances this season where players had goals in games, but didn’t have a shot.

Alex Wennberg and Blake Coleman.

Here is Wennberg’s own goal.

Coleman’s goal was also an awarded goal, he had drew a penalty shot while skating toward an empty net and in that case officials can just award the tally.

But while the goal isn’t awarded, a shot isn’t. Which leads to some fun statistical oddities.

You learn something new every day. Thanks for reading.