A look at some famous "own goals"

When you really think about it, Ryan O'Byrne's mental gaffe couldn't have been at a BETTER time for the Montreal Canadiens. Think about it...it's early in the season, no drastic playoff implications for the Habs, nothing all that terrible.

But the way montreal fans treated O'Byrne following the game and the next day was pretty bad. I know Montreal fans are passionate about hockey, but give the kid a break.

I think Montreal Head Coach Guy Carboneau said it best where he put the onus on the group on the ice in gnereal, and not the Montreal defenseman...

"If it were me, I would also try to protect him and tell him that it's a snippet of a long season. I would also hang it (the delayed penalty) on the group rather than the individual. There was some miscommunication there and it wouldn't have happened if the other four skaters on the ice simply yelled out that there was a delayed penalty."

Montreal fans, give him a break. It's a simple mistake. Yes, one that he will remember and will be remembered for a long time, but when you look at it in terms of the season, it's not that bad.

Infact, there have been many worse "own goals" in NHL history that have come at the most inopportune of times.

Nicklas Backstrom - March 9, 2008:

The Capitals are in the hunt for the Southeast division title after a miraculous season-long comeback. In a 2-2 game against the dangerous Pittsburgh Penguins in the final minute, what could be worse this late in the season? Yup, shooting the puck in your own net, let alone with your own goaltender in the net. Luckily, the Capitals went on to win the division and make the playoffs.

Niclas Wallin: 2005-06 season


Quite obviously worse in length than O'Byrne's, but equally embarrassing nonetheless. Wallin even looked back, shot it from the center-red line and just potted one for the Caps. Luckily for Wallin and the Hurricanes, Carolina scored 6 unanswered goals after this and won the game 7-2.

Marc Bergevin: 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs


What's wrose than shooting the puck in your own net?

Throwing it in your own net...and during the playoffs as well. Marc Bergevin learned the hard way.

Chris Phillips: 2007 Stanley Cup Finals


What's worse than throwing the puck in your own net in the playoffs?

Putting the puck in your own net off your goalie in the Stanley Cup FINALS. To quite Chris Phillips after the game "now I know how Steve Smith feels..."

Wish I could find a better video though...

Steve Smith: 1986 Stanely Cup Playoffs


Speaking of Mr. Smith...it's probably one of the most famous gaffes in hockey history. With the game tied at 2 between Edmonton and Calgary, and the Oilers looking to continue their run for the third straight Cup, Smith mistakenly shot the puck in the back of goaltender Grant Fuhr's leg and into the net.

Calgary went on to win the game, and the series. They went on to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, eventually falling to the Montreal Canadiens, being backstopped by some young pesky goaltender named Patrick Roy.