Why Alex Newhook’s goal counted for Canadiens even though the puck never went in the net originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alex Newhook is having such a good playoff run for the Montreal Canadiens that he scored a goal when the puck didn’t even go across the goal line.

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He’s now up to five postseason goals already after scoring two on Sunday night — and that’s after just 13 in the regular season.

Newhook scored a standard goal to tie the game 1-1 on Sunday, but by the next time he scored, his tally made it 6-2 Habs.

And it came with a puck that only hit off the post.

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Why did Alex Newhook’s goal count?

It had to do with there being an empty net.

Newhook was in, and Buffalo committed a penalty to prevent Newhook from shooting and scoring.

It would’ve been a penalty shot, but because there was no goalie in the net, it counts as an awarded goal.