The Carolina Hurricanes won 5-2 over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, but for one Canes player, it was a night to forget.
Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov probably had a good night’s sleep knowing his team eventually won the game, as he allowed one of the worst goals we’ve seen the season, all the way from the neutral zone.
It’s not often we see goalie blunders like the one on Thursday, and it had some consequences. Canes held a 3-0 lead when Zach Parise scored his first goal as a member of the Avalanche, recently signing with the team.
Canes still had a two-goal lead, but it didn’t take long for it to be cut to just one. Seven seconds, to be precise.
It’s a rare accomplishment to score two goals in under ten seconds, but this time, Avs had some help from opposing goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, who was caught sleeping.
Following the face-off after the 3-1-goal, Avalanche defenseman Sam Girard skated down the neutral zone along the boards. He chipped the puck into the offensive zone, hoping for a lucky bounce or a face-off.
But instead, the puck just sailed right into the net, as Kochetkov was caught off guard. The goal came with just 21 seconds remaining of the first period, and when the second started, Kochetkov was pulled.
Antti Raanta, who served as the backup goalie, led the team out for the second period, but in an unexpected turn of events, Kochetkov wasn’t done for the night.
Raanta didn’t allow any goals in the second period, but due to an injury, Kochetkov, who gave up the unacceptable goal to close out the first period, was back in the net for the third period.
The Hurricanes managed to hold out the lead, eventually winning 5-2. Kochetkov didn’t give up anymore, and what a relief it must’ve been, knowing his team eventually won.
Everybody makes mistakes; it’s how you react afterward that defines you as a human and a hockey player.
