Let's set the scene. There are 12 minutes left in the third period of an important NHL Playoffs Game 3 between the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo is down one goal, 3-2, and holds a two-man advantage for a very large chunk of time.
VIDEO: Brian Boucher’s Broken Mask Helps Flyers Kill Penalty In Game 3 Vs. Sabres
With about 30 seconds left on that advantage, Tyler Ennis takes a point blank shot that hits goaltender Brian Boucher square in the mask. Then, this happens.
Boucher flipped the mask off after the shot, and as you can see in the replay on the video, the strap on the back clearly snaps from the impact. Just uh, convenient timing I guess. Boucher explained after the game.
I got hit there and it broke the buckle there, the strap, so the mask was loose. I just felt like it was kind of unsafe. The mask was moving around on my face. I’ve seen other goalies flip their mask off. I didn’t know what would happen, but the referee said it was the right play and it was fine.
It worked in our favor I think. It wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t like I un-did the strap and was looking to do this. It just so happened I was going across and made a save and it knocked the mask off. It worked in our favor I think.
It certainly did work in their favor. Buffalo had control of the puck when Boucher flipped his mask off, causing the official to blow the whistle in accordance with Rule 9.5. Obviously, the fans at HSBC Arena weren’t all that happy, but the officials clearly agreed with Boucher that he made the right decision in taking off the mask.
The Sabres failed to score on the power play and went on to lose, 4-2.
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