Trailing 3-0 early the second period, the odds were already stacked against a New Jersey Devils comeback in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Perhaps if the Los Angeles Kings found themselves playing a man down -- as New Jersey was when L.A. exploded for three power play goals in the first period -- then the Devils could take advantage. Instead, the Devils found themselves seemingly playing against an extra skater at a key moment.
Kings captain Dustin Brown skated fast near both benches and gained the offensive zone while Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov tried chasing him down. But linesman Pierre Racicot was skating backwards and couldn't get out of the way, unable to avoid making contact with the speeding Volchenkov. The defenseman barreled into Racicot, knocking him on his back and accidentally hitting him in the mouth with his stick.
The hit allowed Brown to get deep into the New Jersey zone and put pressure on Brodeur. Brown got the puck behind net, found Jeff Carter in the slot who fired it past the Devils netminder for the fourth goal of the Kings' Stanley Cup-clinching victory.
Even though it appeared as if Racicot had nowhere to go, Devils assistant coach Adam Oates was still furious and yelling at the officials from the bench.
Racicot appeared to have a nasty facial injury, but still tried to stay in the game. That just goes to show that the linesmen are pretty tough too. But he was later replaced by standby Derek Amell.
Watch the rest of the Game 6 highlights here.
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