Last week, we showed you footage of goaltender David Leggio dislodging the net from its goal posts over in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga when Leggio was tasked with stopping a breakaway.

 

Leggio, who pulled the same move in the AHL years before, caused quite a stir on the internet, and forced the league to change its rule if goaltenders push the net off its lodging. In a press release on the league’s website, any goaltender that deliberately pushes the net off the pegs during a breakaway will automatically be charged a goal.

The former Bridgeport Sound Tiger was given a gross misconduct, and fined for his actions.

In an interview with E.J. Hradek of the NHL Network, Leggio explained that he thought the breakaway in the game in Munich was a 2-on-0, not 1-on-0, so he decided to “play the percentages” and try his luck on a penalty shot, and wouldn’t you know it, the player missed.

“When I was at the World Championships playing for USA, I went in the game and [Russia] had a 3-on-0 with Ovechkin and Tikhonov and surprise, surprise, they scored,” he said. “That would have taken some courage to do it in that situation. So I figured out the rule [and] if this ever happens again let’s take the percentages and take the penalty shot instead.”

Leggio actually went out of his way to clarify what the ruling was with German officials when he arrived in the DEL two years ago, and knew that he’d be able to get away with the cheap move again one day, just like he did in the AHL that also prompoted a few rule changes.

While it demonstrates poor sportsmanship and takes advantage of a poorly constructed rule, at least Leggio knew what he could get away with, and had the guts to exploit the loophole.

The IIHF’s rule is that a penalty shot is awarded, but if Leggio or any other goaltender ever pulls this off again, don’t be surprised if an automatic goal becomes the norm whenever this shady tactic ever pops up again.

If you’re going to be stupid, at least be smart about it, right Leggio? Leggio could be on the U.S. Olympic team as one of it’s goaltenders with NHL players absent and the KHL still undecided if they're sending their players or not.

Just imagine if he pulls this off in an Olympic game.

(H/T Sports Illustrated)