Advertisement

Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night became...

By JOE CIALINI, UPI Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA -- Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night became the second goalie in NHL history to score a goal, and the first to shoot the puck into the net.

With Boston Bruins goalie Rejean Lemelin pulled in favor of a sixth attacker, Hextall collected a lose puck at the bottom of the faceoff circle and wristed it nearly the length of the ice it into the empty net.

Advertisement

The goal, with 1:12 remaining, capped the Flyers' 5-2 victory. Moments earlier, Hextall had passed up an opportunity to shoot, instead clearing the puck.

'The first time they dumped it in, I didn't have much time, so I just cleared the zone,' Hextall said. 'The second time, I had a lot of time and I figured, 'What the heck, go for it.''

Trailing 4-2, the Bruins removed Lemelin with 1:43 to play. Boston's Gord Kluzak snared Hextall's first clearing pass and dumped the puck into the Flyers' end. Hextall retrieved it at the bottom of the right circle and lifted it to the other end of the ice.

Goaltender Billy Smith was credited with a goal for the New York Islanders Nov. 28, 1979 after he made a save and a Colorado Rockies player passed the puck the length of the ice into an empty net. New York Rangers goalie Bob Froese was credited with a goal last week, but it later was given to defenseman Bob Shaw.

Advertisement

Hextall had a message for Smith.

'Tell him I got the first one,' Hextall said.

There can be no doubt about Hextall's goal, as his shot sailed down the center of the ice and nestled inside the right post.

'Before you say anything, I was aiming for that corner,' Hextall said. 'It looked like it was going off the post. I held my breath for a minute until I saw it go in.'

Hextall said the situation was right for his goal attempt.

'I wouldn't want to try it in a one-goal game, because that would be selfish,' he said. 'But we had a two-goal lead, and I was going to go for it.'

Hextall has made no secret of his desire to score a goal.

'My teammates were behind me and they know I wanted to do it, and they wanted me to get it,' he said.

Philadelphia Coach Mike Keenan said it was only a matter of time until Hextall scored.

'It was inevitable,' he said. 'He shoots as well as anyone in the league.'

Hextall said it was a moment he will remember forever.

'It's one thing I'll talk about when I'm done hockey,' he said. 'Hopefully, I'll get one or two more. It's just a thrill to score a goal. I can't wait to look at the statistics.'

Advertisement

Latest Headlines