Erik Cernak scores goal from center ice after crazy bounce on dump-in

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak scored an unexpected goal on a dump-in from center ice that took a crazy bounce off the boards during Tuesday night's game in St. Louis. 

It happened in the first period just seconds after a Lightning power play goal at the 5:24 gave them a 2-0 lead. On the following face-off, Cernak ended up with the puck and sent it down the ice with the intention of dumping the puck around the boards behind the Blues net. However, instead of hugging the bottom rim of the boards, the puck suddenly kicked off the boards and made a beeline for the net. The puck deflected off the stick and through the legs of Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.

     

Just the way that Cernak planned it, right?  He couldn't do that again with a million tries.

The Blues coaching staff might have been tempted to pull Binnington after the freaky goal by Cernak gave the Lightning lead to 3-0 at just 5:29 into the game. Instead, Binnington remained in goal, and the move paid off as he fought through the adversity and kept the Lightning off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.  Meanwhile, the Blues tied the game in regulation and won the game 4-3 in a shootout. Binnington deserves a lot of credit for pulling the victory from the jaws of defeat. 

[SportsNet]

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About Michael James

Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.