In the NHL rulebook, under Rule 49.2, a goal is disallowed if an attacking player propels the puck into the net using a “distinct kicking motion.”
At 17:08 of the first period of the Caps game Saturday, New Jersey’s Jesper Bratt sent a pass out front to Connor Brown, who stuck his skate out and deflected the puck past Caps goalie Charlie Lindgren.
The refs took a look at the replay and said there wasn’t a ‘distinct kicking motion.’
He is allowed to angle his skate, have the puck hit it and then go in, but you can see that he lifts and slides his skate, and it goes from being a legal deflection to an actual kicking motion. If he didn’t move his skate after angling it, fine. But he moves it, which is a kick. Fans countered the call with a chorus of ‘ref you suck,’ before Anthony Beauvillier scored to put the Caps up, 3-2.
Goal confirmed https://t.co/cRcC8e9xwa
— Capitals Replays (@CapitalsReplays) November 15, 2026
After a review for a distinct kicking motion, it’s ruled a GOOD GOAL 🚨
Thoughts? https://t.co/GwYIE7VvFc
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) November 15, 2026
