The Leafs’ Bobby McMahon scored his first NHL goal in unusual fashion

Bobby McMahon’s dreams came true, then were quickly taken away from him.

In Thursday’s opener against the Detroit Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie, playing in his second NHL game, scored his first career goal just seconds into the contest. What seemed like an incredible story quickly turned into confusion for everyone watching on stage and on television.

McMahon did a good job of deflecting the shot off the stick, but Detroit defender Olli Matata’s shot was deflected into the back of the net. Then it was called back and “no goal.”

Rule 49.2 The NHL rule book elaborates a bit: “An offensive player may not score a goal against an offensive player who uses a different kicking motion to put the ball into the net with his skate/foot,” the rule states. “An attacker who enters the net from any player, goalkeeper or official cannot score a goal.”

McMahon intentionally took a shot to get the puck to the stick, but it went off the puck and into the back of the net, but it was rightly denied, albeit by accident.

We all know how polarized it is A different kicking motion It might be the law, but before this decision, most people didn’t even know it was illegal. As with any ruling from the league — just like the countless questionable goaltender interference calls we get every season — the hockey world took notice.

McMahon, 26, has eight goals and seven assists in 17 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Wainwright, Alta., native was named the AHL Player of the Week on Monday after scoring six points in the past three games. He finished second on the Marlies last season with 24 goals.

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