New York. It’s every goalkeeper’s ultimate dream – and last night Linus Ollmark made it happen.
He scored, as the first Swedish goalie in NHL history, when Premier League leader Boston beat Vancouver.
– I find it hard to comprehend that I actually succeeded, but I will be able to enjoy this for a long time, says the 29-year-old Angermann from Sportbladet.
It was in the last minute of the duel at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, when the Canucks shot their goaltender and were seeking to tie the Bruins’ lead at 2-1, the real action of the night in the NHL happened.
Linus Ullmark took a few cuts from the penalty area to tackle the missed puck and, despite two home players forcing a break in, suddenly decided to try the impossible.
“I thought I shot myself in my own pocket”
He made a gamble with the stick and sent the ball in a high arc across the field – and moments later it fell into the Canucks’ abandoned goal cage.
– There were many little things that made me take a chance. The pass was completely loose, the puck didn’t come down behind the extended goal line and I didn’t have much pressure on me, Linus says on the phone from Vancouver a few hours after the amazing success sequence.
– At first I thought I shot my own box, because I didn’t see or hear anything, the ball went up so high. But when I put on the ice, I understood….
How exactly I felt in that moment is hard for the 29-year-old from Lugenvik – who has made this season a fairy tale after all – to explain.
– I always dreamed of achieving such a goal and tried many times, but I could not achieve it before, he continues.
– I find it hard to believe that I actually succeeded now. It feels strange. But I will be able to enjoy this for a long time.
“was the best”
Also, team members can judge by feedback when the goal was a reality. Pure TV Puck Joy broke out on the ice and into the booth – which Linus, like all scorers, had to overtake him and hit all outstretched gloves.
– It was probably the best of all, that I saw how happy the boys were, that I got involved with them.
Only thirteen goalies have scored in NHL history – Becca Rehn was the most recent in 2019 – and Linus was the first ever Swede.
– It’s a nice added bonus, he says.
Hampus Lindholm also contributed to the 3-1 victory with a goal – nice, but not quite as unexpected as his compatriot …