It’s not every day that a goaltender scores a goal. It’s definitely not every day that a goaltender scores to send his team to the playoffs.
Former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Louis Domingue did just that in the American Hockey League on Friday night. Now playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack, the 32-year-old netminder tallied an empty-net goal against the Springfield Thunderbirds to seal the game — and clinch a playoff berth for Hartford.
Domingue scored with 23 seconds remaining in the third period of Friday’s game at Hartford’s XL Center to put the Wolf Pack up 5-3. The veteran goaltender gloved down a long-range shot by Adam Gaudette, put the puck on his stick, and let it fly all the way down to the other end of the ice, where it slid just inside the right post of the Springfield net.
With the 5-3 victory, Hartford improved to 31-27-10 on the year, remained in fifth place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division, and officially secured its berth in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Domingue became the second goaltender in Hartford Wolf Pack history to score a goal, joining AHL Hall of Fame inductee J.F. Labbe, who achieved the feat in a game against the Quebec Citadelles on February 5, 2000.
Through 26 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, Domingue has a 14-8-4 record, one shutout, one point (a goal), and a .908 save percentage. He’s also appeared in one game with the New York Rangers this year, stopping 25 of 26 shots in a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on November 9.
Domingue has long been a journeyman goaltender who has plied his trade in the AHL and NHL for more than a decade. Originally drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes back in 2010, Domingue made his debut with the team in the 2014-15 season and spent four years in the desert before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Since then, Domingue has made brief appearances with the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Rangers, with whom he is currently affiliated.
Domingue made exactly one start with the Canucks during the 2019-20 season, allowing four goals on 34 shots in a loss. But he captured the attention of Canucks fans during the 2020 playoff bubble with his baking videos that he regularly shared on social media.
In any case, whether he’s serving up goals or apple pies, Louis Domingue remains in the hearts of hockey fans. And now, his AHL club is heading to the playoffs.