Watch: Golden Knights' Mitch Marner nets between-own-legs playoff goal vs. Ducks
May 15 (UPI) -- Mitch Marner scored one of the most ridiculous playoff goals in recent memory, sliding the puck between his own legs in a Vegas Golden Knights series-clinching victory. Marner netted the inventive finish just 62 seconds into the 5-1 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the second-round series Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. With the victory, the Golden Knights won the series 4-2 and advanced to the Western Conference final.
"I tried to do that move and, luckily enough, it worked out," Marner told reporters. Marner's shot was the first attempt of the night. The Golden Knights netted three of their five goals in the first period.
They were outshot 32-21, including 28-12 over the final two periods. Net minder Carter Hart made 31 saves in the win. But fans didn't have to wait long for the play of the night.
Defenseman Shea Theodore cleared the puck off the boards to forward William Karlsson from deep in Golden Knights territory less than a minute into the game. Karlsson sniped Marner with a long-distance pass between the blue lines. Ducks defender Jackson LaCombe draped the Golden Knights forward as he skated between the circles, forcing him to turn his back to the goal.
Marner kept the puck on his stick and flashed it right, forcing goalie Lukas Dostal to lean to that side. He then tapped the puck left and smacked it between his own legs, beating LaCombe on his glove side in the process. Marner assisted fellow forward Brett Howden for a short-handed score 7:28 later.