With the Oilers trailing 5-4 in the dying minutes of the game, Stars' player Patrik Stefan got the puck and had a clean chance at the empty net, but completely botched an easy goal and lost the puck. While he fell into the corner, the Oilers quickly moved the puck up the ice, and Ales Hemsky received a seam pass to have a clean break at the net to tie the game - and he made no mistake.
17 years ago today, Patrik Stefan made hockey history in one of the worst ways imaginable 😅 pic.twitter.com/IKYGYzQxl4� Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 4, 2024
Ironically, even after this legendary goal, the Oilers still went on to lose the game 6-5 in the shootout.
However, this game and this play ended up having great significant for for Patrik Stefan. He was drafted 1st overall in the 1999 draft by the Atlanta Thrashers and after not meeting expectations their team over 6 seasons, he was traded to the Dallas Stars where he was totally unable to continue his career. Playing just 41 games with the Stars and recording just 5 goals and 11 points, the 2007 season was his final year in the NHL, and he went out with this brutal misplay as perhaps his greatest legacy.
POLL | ||
JANVIER 5 | 331 ANSWERS Throwback: Ales Hemsky scores legendary goal after epic miss Who was the biggest bust in NHL history? | ||
Patrik Stefan | 56 | 16.9 % |
Alexandre Daigle | 107 | 32.3 % |
Nail Yakupov | 140 | 42.3 % |
Other | 28 | 8.5 % |
List of polls |