Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Tom Kuhnhackl scored a goal while falling down with his back to the net during the New York Islanders' win against the Vancouver Canucks.
The miraculous make came in the first period of the 5-2 win on Tuesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Kuhnackl chased down a loose puck on the left side of the goal during the sequence. He tripped and fell down while skating in the opposite direction of the goal, but decided to shoot anyway.
Kuhnhackl was somehow able to swipe the puck off of the ice and send it into the short side of the net, beating Canucks keeper Jacob Markstrom, who didn't even see it go in.
"I kinda tried to spin away from the defenseman," Kuhnhackl told reporters. "I thought I got tripped and they got a penalty so I just tried to throw it on net and I was fortunate that the puck went in."
The score tied the game at 1-1 just 5:11 into the opening frame. Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle also scored to give the Islanders a 3-1 edge in the first period.
Jake Virtanen scored his eighth goal of the season in the second period for the Canucks. Kuhnhackl added another goal 3:26 into the third period. Cal Clutterbuck added the final score for the Islanders on a power play goal at 17:06.
The Islanders host the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Brooklyn.
