Chris Kreider Whiffs on Puck, Scores Softest Goal of Year Through Niklas Backstrom’s Legs (GIF)

We have a new nominee for worst goal of the year.

Chris Kreider and the Rangers downed the Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Sunday, in part because Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom played like a block of Swiss cheese. The Rangers were up 3-1 in the third period when Backstrom was five-holed by an extremely slow shot by Kreider. Calling it a “shot” almost seems too generous.

Kreider completely whiffed on a shot on goal, sending the puck sliding at an unusually slow pace, which threw Backstrom’s timing off. The puck then continued to slide right through Backstrom’s legs and into the back of the net.

Check it out in the GIF below, courtesy of SB Nation.