Artemi Panarin scored a beautiful penalty goal against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, with some naming it a contender for “penalty of the year.” However, fans are now saying the goal should have been disallowed because Panarin didn’t move forward during the shot.
The New York Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings on February 4. Since then, Panarin has made an instant impact on his new team.
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17 points in 15 games
In the 15 games Panarin has played with the Kings, he has registered 17 points: six goals and eleven assists. However, the Kings are struggling, and on Tuesday they suffered their fourth straight loss, falling 3–2 to the Calgary Flames in a shootout. With eleven games left in the regular season, the Kings currently sit three points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Artemi Panarin did not record any points in regulation but scored a beautiful penalty shot.
Artemi Panarin penalty shot
Panarin skated toward the goal, luring Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf down onto the ice before lobbing the puck over him into the net. The goal has been dubbed a “penalty of the year” candidate, but fans have also pointed out that it shouldn’t have counted. The rules stipulate that both the skater and the puck must be moving forward throughout the penalty shot; the player cannot stop, skate backward, or spin around. Fans are claiming that this is exactly what Panarin did, calling out the NHL on social media.
Calling out the NHL
“Wtf he skates backwards, this is so stupid,” one fan wrote on X.
“What happened to the required forward momentum with the puck rule?” another asked.
“No goal if they actually care about rules,” a third wrote.
“Nice-looking goal, but it shouldn’t have counted. Shootouts are getting even more stupid,” a fourth wrote.
You can watch the penalty shot below.
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