Oilers' Kris Russell scores horrendous own goal against Maple Leafs
Kris Russell will never forget the goal he scored Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but for all the wrong reasons.
With one minute remaining in a wildly entertaining 4-4 game between the Maple Leafs and Oilers, Russell and Nazem Kadri were battling for a loose puck in the slot when disaster struck.
In an attempt to clear the puck, the Oilers defenceman shot it right past Laurent Brossoit and into his own net, giving the Leafs a 5-4 lead (and eventual 6-4 victory) and walking away empty-handed. Patrick Marleau got credit for the goal, his 10th of the season.
Kris Russell scores on his own net to give the Maple Leafs a win lololol pic.twitter.com/OldzQBAqSp
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 1, 2017
You gotta feel for Russell, a frequent beacon of criticism who otherwise played a strong game and even scored the tying goal earlier in the third period. As you would imagine, he was a little shell shocked after the game.
Credit Kris Russell from @EdmontonOilers who was at his stall when room opened. "I can't remember this ever happening" said the d-man. He looked near tears.
— Gene Principe (@GenePrincipe) December 1, 2017
Even the Maple Leafs couldn’t help but feel for the Oilers defenceman.
Kadri on how Russell must feel: "That would be the worst."
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) December 1, 2017
What is it with Edmonton and egregious own goals?
The Oilers were on the receiving end of such a gift just last year when Patrik Laine fired one into his own net to give Edmonton a 3-2 lead late in the third. And of course there’s Steve Smith’s game-winner in the 1986 Smythe final against Calgary. All happened in Edmonton.
It was an unfortunate way to end things for the Oilers, who fought back from an early 3-1 deficit and ended up outplaying and outshooting the Leafs, 45-37. The Oilers really could have used at least a point, too. They rallied to beat the Coyotes in overtime two nights earlier for only their second two-game win streak of the season, and desperately need to start putting wins on the board to keep pace in a relatively open Pacific Division.
The Leafs on the other hand will gladly leave Alberta with four points after beating Calgary 4-1 on Tuesday.
As for Russell, maybe try to secure one of those memory-erasers from Men in Black, pop an Ambien and move on to the next one, which will be an important showdown in Calgary on Saturday night.
