Goalie Goals Trivia Quiz

Answer: Billy Smith

Billy Smith was the first NHL goaltender to be credited with a goal. The goal was scored on November 28, 1979 during a game between the New York Islanders and the Colorado Rockies (who became the New Jersey Devils in 1982). The Rockies had pulled their goaltender following a delayed penalty call against the Islanders. Rockies defenseman Rob Ramage botched a pass and the puck sailed into the Rockies' own goal. Since Billy Smith was the last Islander player to have touched the puck, he was given credit for the goal.

Answer: Ron Hextall

Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers was the first goaltender to score a goal by intentionally shooting the puck into the opposing teams net. He was also the first goaltender to have scored twice in his career. Ron Hextall's first goal was scored in a game between the Flyers and the Boston Bruins on December 8, 1987.

His second goal was scored during in a playoff game between the Flyers and the Washington Capitals on April 11, 1989 and is also considered to be the first shorthanded goal by a goaltender. Both of Ron Hextall's goals were empty netters.

Answer: Chris Osgood

Chris Osgood, who spent the majority of his career with the Detroit Red Wings, scored an empty net goal with the Red Wings on March 6, 1996 in a game against the Hartford Whalers (they became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997). Fifteen years later, on December 26, 2011 goaltender Cam Ward would be credited with a goal as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes during a game against the New Jersey Devils.

Answer: Martin Brodeur

Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils was the first goaltender to be credited with three goals in his career. His first was an empty net goal which was scored during a playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens on April 17, 1997. Brodeur's second goal was scored on February 15, 2000 in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Similar to Billy Smith's goal, this one was credited to Brodeur after the puck went into the opposing team's own net by accident. Brodeur's third goal was scored on March 21, 2013 against the Carolina Hurricanes and was again credited to Brodeur after the opposing team accidentally allowed the puck to go into their own net.

Answer: Damian Rhodes

Damian Rhodes was the first American born NHL goaltender to be credited with a goal (before then the first four goaltenders to score were all born in Canada). Rhodes' goal was scored on January 2, 1999 during a game between the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils.

The goal was the result of the Devils accidentally allowing the puck to cross into their own net during a delayed penalty. In addition to being credited with a goal, Damian Rhodes was credited with a shutout as well as the Senators defeated the Devils by a score of 6-0.

Answer: Jose Theodore

Jose Theodore was a member of the Montreal Canadiens when he scored an empty net goal against the New York Islanders on January 2, 2001. This goal was extra special for Jose Theodore as he was also credited with a shutout in that game with a score of 3-0 in favor of the Canadiens.

Answer: Evgeni Nabokov

Evgeni Nabokov became the first NHL goaltender born in the Soviet Union (Kazakhstan) to be credited with a goal. Nabokov scored an empty net goal as a member of the San Jose Sharks on March 10, 2002 in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. In addition, Evgeni Nabokov's goal was officially scored as a power play goal, the first to ever be credited to a goaltender.

Answer: Mika Noronen

Mika Noronen was credited with a goal on Valentine's Day in 2004 during a game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs had pulled their goaltender in order to gain an extra attacker in the final minute of the game as they had been down by only a single goal.

Unfortunately, the Leafs made an errant pass which sent the puck careening into their own goal. Noronen was the last Sabres player to have touched the puck before it went in the net.

Answer: Pekka Rinne

Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators scored an empty net goal during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 9, 2020. Pekka Rinne was actually the second Predators goaltender to record a goal. The first one was Chris Mason who was credited with a goal during a game against the Phoenix Coyotes on April 15, 2006. Mason's goal was the result of the opposing team accidentally allowing the puck into their own net.

Answer: Linus Ullmark

Linus Ullmark was the first NHL goalie from Sweden to score a goal. Ullmark scored an empty net goal on February 25, 2023 as a member of the Boston Bruins during in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. It was one of the highlights of a memorable season that saw the Bruins clinch their fourth Presidents' Trophy, which is awarded to the team with the best overall record in a season.