Curious ruling

Puck not in the goal: Black Wings celebrate goal

In ice hockey, a goal is scored in special situations even though the puck isn't in the box.(Bild: Black Wings Linz/Eisenbauer)

The Black Wings scored an ice hockey goal with absolute rarity value in their 2-0 win against Vorarlberg. Because the puck didn't land in the goal, there's a special rule for that. On Friday, the Cracks travel on to Ljubljana.

Linz striker St-Amant was quickly on his skates shortly before the end, was obstructed by an opponent in a running duel towards the empty Vorarlberg goal and deflected the puck onto the bar. From where the puck bounced in front of the goal, where it remained. A whistle. A decision. Goal!

And quite rightly so! Because in ice hockey there is a rare "technical goal" where the puck is not in the box. This occurs when the following conditions are met:

• If a team has replaced the goalkeeper with a field player.
• The puck is in the neutral zone or defensive third
• An infringement is committed against the player in possession of the puck.
• There is no opponent between him and the empty goal in the line of fire.

The final score was 2:0 for the visitors, whose defenseman Greg Moro was given the all-clear in hospital after taking a cross-check - and who arrived home at 4.15 am. Today it's on to Ljubljana, where win no. 5 in a row is on the cards.