Mark Jankowski Scored, Then Didn't Score, Then Scored Again: Welcome to NHL Offside Hell
Picture this: it's overtime in Carolina, the Hurricanes are one goal away from a 2-0 series lead, and Mark Jankowski rips it past the Senators goalie with 2:42 left in the first OT period. The benches clear. The building is losing it. Fans are already heading to the parking lot. Game over, right?
Wrong. Dead wrong.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiA Goal That Never Was (Technically)
Thirty seconds before Jankowski scored what everyone thought was the winner, the NHL review crew decided to hit the brakes. The issue: Carolina's zone entry was offside. Specifically, the league said Jordan Staal "had possession but not control" when he crossed the blue line before the puck fully made it across. Yes, you read that correctly. Possession without control. It's apparently a thing now.
The replays weren't even clear enough to make the call with confidence, but that didn't matter. The goal was waved off. Jankowski's moment of glory, erased.
The Plot Twist Nobody Saw Coming
Here's where it gets absolutely bonkers: even though the goal didn't count because of the offside, Carolina still got awarded a penalty shot. A penalty shot. You read that right too. The offside negated the goal, but somehow the penalty shot stayed in play.
Jordan Martinook stepped up for the penalty shot in that first overtime period. Missed it. But the hockey gods apparently felt bad because Martinook got another shot in the second OT period, and this time he delivered the real winner for the Canes. Same result, different timeline, completely different route to get there.
Ottawa never recovered from getting a second chance and failing to capitalize on it. That's the difference between a team of destiny and everyone else. Carolina found a way. The Senators didn't.
Somewhere, Rod Brind'Amour probably came close to losing it on the refs. The rest of us are just left wondering how the NHL managed to take a rule that should be simple and turn it into the most complicated mess in professional sports.
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