The WORST own-goal in hockey history?

Today we'll take a look at a classic NHL play - Steve Smith's own goal in the 1986 playoff series which saw the Edmonton Oilers lose to the Calgary Flames in Game 7

[@BvG_Venom]

Gretzky handed Smith the Cup 1st in '87. A nice touch

[@TOCC50]

Montreal & Edmonton for the cup in ‘86, imagine that

[@mikeawesome9212]

​@@TOCC50No, we won't.

[@JaredtheRabbit]

That was a pretty wholesome move from Gretzky.

[@eliezerbulka4811]

Oh man, how could you skip the fact that it was actually Steve Smith's birthday!?

[@marcmardini6873]

Yeah it makes it just that much worse

[@mikeawesome9212]

BAHA!! I didn't know that part. Is that for true?

[@danielholmes5308]

I was living in Edmonton when this game happened. There are a few things I still remember from that time. The Oilers had won back-to-back cups and was heavily favored to win this year. Grant Fuhr received almost no criticism for the play despite his positioning with the puck behind his net. It was Steve Smith's birthday. The Edmonton Sun ran a brutal front page the next day. It was a close up of Steve Smith sitting in his locker with tears streaming down his face and the headline "Happy Birthday!" When the Oilers won the cup the next season, Gretzky barely held it before passing it to Smith

[@quakedacruiser]

i can’t begin to imagine how Stevie felt in the ensuing days. that’s like (for example) the Milwaukee media flaming Khris Middleton for throwing a Finals game by fouling in a horrible spot. he ain’t deserve allat 😢

[@mikeawesome9212]

OOOOHHHH SHIT!!!! Sick burn by The Edmonton Sun.

[@pascalecormier6022]

Even after all those years, it still hurts to see the poor guy broken down on the ice. His must have been a horrible summer.

[@mikeawesome9212]

Das what he gets. Apparently anytime someone would see Mr. Smith around town the Edmontonians would hurl rotten fruit and vegetables at him. This continued until the Oilers won the cup a year later.

[@jerdog557]

Love the old stuff!

[@KM-tr1kp]

Love the video!! Would love to see more from the past eras of hockey

[@VirulentGunk]

I think the Oil have recovered fairly nicely. A Gentleman sweep in 2022, followed by the Flames imploding entirely. The Battle of Alberta is pretty one sided right now.

[@boomerncheeze]

Yup, they're wasting away prime McDavid and Draisaitl but at least they beat their arch rivals in the playoffs lmao. I bet they'll hang a banner for this "achievement" next to their shitty "best team ever" internet poll one

[@kyngbepsi434]

Imagine having the two best offensive players in the league and burning out in the playoffs, what more does Edmonton need??

[@VirulentGunk]

Totally wasting it. Not going out and making acquisitions to make the team stronger, or playoff runs or anything. Just milling about, out of playoff contention, letting their best players walk away for free. Totally. So wasteful. It's almost like winning the Stanley Cup is hard or something, even with two of the best players in the world.

[@lduff155]

I didn't know the NHL gave out rings for beating your provincial rivals.

[@boomerncheeze]

@@VirulentGunk They've had two second round appearances and a conference final appearance with those two on the team. That doesn't look too bad on paper but when you consider 2 of their last 4 post season eliminations were sweeps and they couldn't even get past the bubble qualifier round against Chicago, its pretty obvious that they still aren't properly built for the playoffs; especially if you're holding then to the same standards of the glory years of Pittsburgh with Crosby and Malkin or Chicago with Towes and Kane

[@defaultuser1447]

As others have mentioned, it was Smith's birthday. I always remember that because I share the same birthday. That same night I was at the Blues game when they clinched against Toronto. So I had better birthday than he did.

[@aledwards2363]

THAT"S why Wayne Gretzky is 'The Great One'. Total class! His talent spoke for itself but the unselfish decisions he made is why he was so revered.

[@guduzegoat8648]

1:10 Stuart skinner in the bottom right corner 😂

[@johnburns9634]

We’d call this The Battle of Alberta, or the UnCivil War. And the Oilers didn’t dominate in their first season, except Montreal in a first round Upset sweep. Then they met the Islanders, and impressed the Islanders. The Flames almost allowed their own goal, but Mike Vernon was amazing in those last 15 minutes.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Actually the first round upset against Montreal happened in the Oilers 2nd season in the NHL in the 1981 playoffs.

[@johnburns9634]

@@oilersridersbluejays My mistake, they didn’t dominate for the first three years.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

I didn't follow hockey in the 1980's, but I have heard about the hatred which developed between these two teams at the time. Their rivalry was referred to as "The Battle of Alberta" or "The Uncivil War". A decade later, I was a new hockey fan during the Detroit vs. Colorado blood feuds, and I remember some old-time hockey fans describing it's intensity by simply saying "This is the 'Uncivil War' of the '90's".

[@TheOriginalTuhat]

Could we say the same happened in the 2000s between the blues and the blackhawks? XD

[@joc8092]

both feuds were intense. Difference is that the Battle of Alberta was probably more a general hatred of one team against the other whereas the Detroit/Colorado feud was more personal (eg Claude Lemieux)

[@michaelfortunato3117]

I'm sure someone will top this someday, putting it in their own goal in OT of game 7 in the Cup Final...on home ice, on a two man advantage with 1 second left.

[@michaelkeller5927]

It'll be the Canucks too lol

[@diegobordones2106]

@@michaelkeller5927I think it would be the leafs, that one year when they finally make it to the finals, their odds of winning better than in the 60’s, only for Nylander to score in their own net in this situations. If this happens to the Canucks on the other hand, Vancouver will be in absolute chaos.

[@Outta-hz1ej]

It probably cost Gretzky and the Oilers a potential 5 for 5 cup run.

[@ReviewyCA]

I've just finished my first year of playing 'net at 45 years old, and THIS goal is the reason I tuck myself deep into the net whenever a teammate has the puck behind my own cage.

[@mikeawesome9212]

45?? You're only a couple small toots away from fitty/50. Who you playin for, Seattle Kraken??

[@Zamppa86]

Gretzky's 'pass' to Smith is a nice one...But it certainly can't compete with Sakic's 'pass' to Bourque in '01!

[@mikeawesome9212]

I remember when Sackkick passed it to Renee Bork, that was super crazy.

[@Austin_Hunter]

So for Calgary to beat Edmonton in the playoffs, they need an own goal as the series winner, noted

[@rudyando]

And for Flames to also win a Cup Edmonton needs ro trade its best player. Also noted.

[@me-fv5xb]

More like Oilers loves losing. It's even anagram for 'i loser"

[@Austin_Hunter]

@@rudyando imma make sure that is written down as well

[@VirtuAI_Mind]

Love this type of content! I don't know much about hockey before my birth.

[@footfungus6226]

Man Vernon must’ve been hype after winning the series for his home town team!

[@timdowney6721]

CBC was part of basic cable in Seattle then, so I got to see all of the great Battles of Alberta. I had Calgarian friends and was thus rooting for the Flames. But there was still no way you could not really feel for Smith. I’m glad he has his name deservedly on the Cup.

[@Classicrocker6119]

I still believe to this day over 37 years later the 1986 series against the Oilers was the most memorable in the Flames history. Oilers we’re pretty much predicted to cruise their way to a third consecutive Stanley Cup title. Can you imagine if the Oilers had won the cup in 1986 and 1989 it would’ve been seven straight championships! The 1989’s was a memorable time for the NHL.

[@94champs]

8 straight. They won in 1990 also. Crazy.

[@joc8092]

@@94champs the op is bad at counting, and hence threw you off as well. If the Oilers had won in 1986 & 1989, that would have only been 6 straight. Then if you include the one in 1990, that would be 7

[@94champs]

@@joc8092 lol good catch!

[@jacksaunders386]

Iirc I think it was also Steve Smith’s birthday, which make it feel so much worse.

[@20thCenturyManTrad]

You oughta check out an ancient own goal from a Hall of Famer no less. I'm an old timer when it comes to hockey, well in 1954, the Red Wings and the Canadiens are having a bitter series in the Stanley Cup final it has gone the limit and beyond, Game 7 Overtime. Both teams are even, but as checking forward and pest Tony Leswick took a long shot to go get a change, Doug Harvey tried to bat the puck down and go the other way, instead he deflected the puck right past his own goalie, and cost his team the Cup in sudden death overtime. There is footage of the 1954 final, so you could do a video on it.

[@j189512]

My Canucks were so close to getting Gretzky from Pocklington, but Pat Quinn thought their price was too high, Greg Adams, Kirk McLean, and 12 million, could you imagine??

[@brianmouland209]

Perry Berezan got credit for the goal

[@-phenom-]

When I saw the title of this video, I thought of the "worst" as in the the most easiest to stop, but it went in anyway. Have you ever heard Don Cherry talking about former Colorado Rockies goalie Hardy Astrom, and calling him the worst ever? I was at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver many years ago when the puck, after a hard dump in, took an awkward bounce after coming around the boards and slowly tricked towards the Rockies goal. The puck was barely even moving by the time Astrom reached his glove hand down to cover it. But I guess he looked up at last second or something, but he missed the puck and it ever-so-slowly went between his pads and slightly over the line, for a goal!!! I don't even think there was an opponent in the Rockies zone. That is my WORST goal, own or not, in hockey history -- though the game and circumstances didn't really matter, as the Rockies were bad.

[@ChrisTallant]

If you went back in time and told Smith what he was going to do, he wouldn't believe you.

[@mikeawesome9212]

Sure he would.

[@Seraph89_]

I remember growing up in the 90’s and 00’s, this clip always came on during the off-season.

[@jonmendelson1104]

My favorite own goal was Marc Bergevin against the Sharks in the 2000 playoffs. The Blues were the Presidents' Trophy winners (51-19-11-1) and the Sharks were the 8th seed (35-30-10-7) and Bergevin caught a puck and literally threw it into his own net. The Blues ended up losing the game 4-2 (not sure if the last goal was an empty netter or not, came with 1 min 3 sec left in regulation) and then they lost the series in 7 despite being a heavy favorite to win the cup. Also in the game 7 of that year, Owen Nolan scored what ended up being the series winning goal (made it 2-0, final score was 3-1) when he shot the puck from just across center ice with under 15 seconds left in the first period. Edit: And because this is a pro-Sharks comment from a Sharks fan I'll include a negative from a Sharks fan's perspective as well. Dan Boyle scored an own goal in overtime in 2010 against the Avs giving the Avs a 2-1 series lead. The Sharks ended up winning in 6, though.

[@moosewhizzerdave2066]

That was an "every man" moment if ever there was one. Who couldn't picture themselves doing that? And it would haunt you forever - because you just know that 35+ years later some guy will be there to remind the world of it. Again.

[@Ru_2305]

I think that it would be interesting if you covered trades over the off season that you think are important.

[@brianhall3254]

Why has nobody ever queried why Fuhr wasn't back in net with his skate against the post - which is where he should've been????

[@durrrrl3435]

Because he just stopped the puck behind the net for Smith and was literally on his way back to his crease. Not Fuhr’s fault at all, 100% Smith’s fault.

[@saltywingsandavsfan]

I would like you to cover the draft but I would like more history videos too

[@mikecraig4998]

The Wings-Avs beef.

[@igmusicandflying]

There's a whole 2+ hour documentary on ESPN+ about that. I think it's tilted somewhat on Detroit's side and I say this as Wings fan since I was knee-high to a grasshopper 50 years ago. But it's a good watch regardless.

[@cheechong5969]

lol the goalie looks like an 8 year old child next to all those grown dudes

[@jwlafferty]

Edmonton still living in the glory of that 80s team. That team was probably the most important thing to ever happen to or come out of Edmonton. Oh, and I'm Calgarian, the only ones allowed to make fun of Edmonton.

[@ryann3487]

Amen from an Edmontonian. I dunno though we've got a nice river!

[@triandfit1]

As a bitter Islander fan still reeling from 1984, I 3as ecstatic.

[@matthewbarry7026]

That team photo with Fuhr sure looks like Skinner

[@cohengamertv6548]

Pls talk about the 2006 Edmonton Oilers Playoff run

[@jaidenstowers8314]

u should do more rivalry history

[@manrocket5984]

The awards show was absolute garbage can't wait for your vid on that.

[@BiasedSportsFan]

Glad I didn’t watch it, just got highlights of the winners. What exactly happened?

[@manrocket5984]

@@BiasedSportsFan It was all country singers and the hosts kid interviewed the top 3 hart nominees and it sucked

[@nicorobin5978]

Wish they'd stop rewarding Karlsson with defensive trophies. He's basically a fourth forward. He's garbage on defense.

[@BiasedSportsFan]

@@nicorobin5978 I mean getting 100 points on a terrible team as a defenceman is an amazing accomplishment to me, but I agree. There should be an offensive and defensive defenceman award.

[@johnc3351]

Back in the 90's if you talk about hockey, someone's always mentioning "it's Canada's game". I don't hear that much anymore with this ugly 30+ year Cup drought

[@therodsky]

Mahsi for that. 4 trophies for my boy McDavid!!

[@emmytoussaint]

ahh... so nice to be a flames fan....

[@Jackthgun]

Loui Erickson getting $6 million a year and on his first shift scoring a own goal on a delayed penalty has to be up there

[@yanngagnon1484]

Al MacInnis - hardest shot in the NHL, third hardest in Port Hood, NS.

[@joc8092]

explain?

[@goodeye6373]

It was fate, Lanny had to get his Cup.

[@Rena2star]

All I'll say is that this is one of the worst own goals but not THE worst. As much as it hurts as a Sens fan to bring it up, but Phillip's own goal in 2007 takes the cake.

[@joc8092]

dude, Steve Smith's goal was the last goal scored in the last period of Game 7, when the score was tied. Phillip's goal was scored in Game 5 in the second period, with a few goals scored after that. Not even close

[@Rena2star]

@joc8092 Granted, that is true, but considering that Phillip's own goal wound up being the GWG to win the Cup for Anaheim is what makes it so terrible.

[@user-km5rv3pk9d]

Do the 1991 Minnesota North Stars

[@nosna9116]

What about the Kris Russell one for a more recent oiler own goal

[@reffthecanadien1328]

It was his birthday too…

[@redsolozach1151]

Is it just me or does Calgary’s goalie look TINY AF

[@sashaozerov3827]

Vernon was measured at 5"9' He was just put into the hall of fame a few days ago, too.

[@destroyliu]

Haha the flames goalie is so mini

[@caje27]

The day smith did that was his birthday too...

[@lukerisko7601]

This was very bad especially considering the circumstances, but i still think the one where he threw the puck in his own net was worse lol

[@Mynameisnumber5]

Don't forget that this also happened on the dudes birthday. oof

[@i_love_sausage7187]

W

[@TheRedleg69]

Didn't he have the Cup winning goal the next year or am I imagining that?

[@durrrrl3435]

You’re imagining it. Jari Kurri scored the cup winner in 87.

[@Goat.productions]

As a bruins fan, I have a more painful and difficult to watch moment from the playoffs (my opinion)

[@diegobordones2106]

Yeah what happened this year was brutal

[@cohengamertv6548]

WHY THE FUCK DID YOU HAVE TO BRING THIS BACK

[@WindyCityHawkey]

Didn't Chris Phillips score a own goal which ended up being the Stanley Cup winning goal in 2007. I would say that's the worst own goal in NHL history.

[@joc8092]

dude, Steve Smith's goal was the last goal scored in the last period of a Game 7, when the score was tied. Phillip's goal was scored in Game 5 in the second period, with a few goals scored after that. Not even close

[@ground.jordan]

Last

[@shadowguy20004]

2002 Detroit Red Wings The Lindros Trade The NJ Devils Trap 90s Expansion Teams

[@lance6382]

McDavid will never win a cup with Edmonton

[@austinseifert474]

IM HERE EARLY

[@JesusFriedChrist]

go flames go 🔥C

[@sierrag8412]

imagine having multiple hall of famers and still being the underdogs

[@joc8092]

both the Oilers and the Flames had great players on their teams, which was why the rivalry was so heated

[@kristiank9313]

First here

[@musselsandmilk1987]

i am first

[@ma1ty13_7]

First comment

[@andidollinger7062]

lol no, it's that japanese guy who hammered one in on purpuse and realizing his mistake seconds later...look it up, it too funny.

[@thealbinorhino8760]

This post seems bitter lol

[@per-kjell4844]

No,I don't understand why people keep bothering to mention this every year, as it was it not even close to the worst. First, the Flames lost in the finals, second the Oilers went on to win two more cups with Smith. When the Oilers traded Paul Coffey, he became their leading scorer on defense. When he had that own goal, the Oilers had plenty of time to come back, but they couldn't. Also Steve Smith had a incredible hockey career, almost 30 years in the NHL. To have your entire career sum up to one bad luck play is to me anyway, is a bullshit .and he deserves better.

[@diegobordones2106]

Why are you double spacing your words?

[@per-kjell4844]

@@diegobordones2106 trying to type on a Samsung tablet

[@diegobordones2106]

@@per-kjell4844 ok

[@joc8092]

@@diegobordones2106 yeah, that is weird

[@joc8092]

dude, nobody's saying Smith wasn't a good player or a flop. Video is simply about the worst own goal, which it probably was. I was a big Oiler's fan in the 80's, and this was BAAAAD

[@popeluigi]

Wrong. Philips own goal in the 2007 cup final it was the cup securing goal for Anaheim

[@joc8092]

dude, Steve Smith's goal was the last goal scored in the last period of Game 7, when the score was tied. Phillip's goal was scored in Game 5 in the second period, with a few goals scored after that. Not even close

[@popeluigi]

@@joc8092 one was in the 2nd round, the other was the Cup final. Philips' goal was worse

[@joc8092]

@@popeluigi I get your point. I don't think you get mine. So looks like we'll never agree. But my guess is if you ask anyone who's followed hockey over the past 50 years or so..... most would remember Steve Smith's goal more than Chris Phillip's

[@popeluigi]

@@joc8092 sorry, still not as bad. Smith won another 3 cups after that blunder. Ottawa has never been back in the finals since.

[@durrrrl3435]

⁠@@joc8092I’ve been following hockey for over 50 years and I would say Phillips’s goal is worse too. His goal was with 4 min left in the second period of the final game of the SCF and ended up being the cup winner, kinda hard to get any worse than that. Smith’s goal was early in the third period of game 7( so not really much later in the game) in the second round, they still had 15 min or so to tie it up but couldn’t.

[@billboggs6641]

There are no " own goals " in hockey. I think you're thinking of soccer

[@durrrrl3435]

Wrong

[@Supertimmylamb]

Why do you always have such exaggerated clickbait titles??

[@Marixa1979]

How so? It's definitely in the running for one of the worst own-goals in hockey history. It has some layers. Likely the Oilers would have won the cup, likely achieving dynasty status. It was the series winning goal, not a meaningless goal. It was his birthday. It's a pretty big story.

[@AnotherDuck]

Do you have any counterexamples?

[@oopopp]

The ONLY reason Calgary ever won a Cup. Without this flames never Win a Cup... like the Canucks.

[@mdlouie]

an own goal in '86 is the only reason Calgary won the cup in '89. okay.

[@joc8092]

@@mdlouie the guy thinks Trump won the 2020 U.S. election as well

[@SussyDylan69]

@@mdlouieexactly, this guy just proved he has no idea wtf he’s talking about lmao

[@durrrrl3435]

Calgary didn’t win the cup the year this happened, genius. 🤪🤦‍♂️

[@christhebest9359]

Why are you making a video about this everyone knows the story

[@EckHockey]

I guarantee you everyone does not know the result of a second round playoff series from 37 years ago

[@GKall-tw4dp]

yeah, i did not know

[@JaredlS10]

@@EckHockey facts

[@valitsemllaluokanavahyvaks3556]

Most of Ecks viewers are 12yr-18yr old zoomers so lots of people dont know for sure.

[@coIin.]

Wooo

[@misterrr7]

Worst one was Japan vs Denmark

[@HyperSageLoL_BMHL]

W