Anglesmith
Setting up the play?
It's interesting because the Pittsburgh scorers didn't give Gaudreau an assist last game when he got poke-checked. Poke checks are a bit of a grey area as to whether they represent controlled play of the puck or not. And usually with goalies I think they generally ignore their touches of the puck.Bennett!!!!
As an aside does anyone know how they hand out assists in the NHL. It seems that as long as you were on the ice in the last 5 minutes before a goal they will give you an assist.
Johnson clearly hit that puck out to Bennett with his stick how does anyone get an assist there?
But if you want to see pity assists, watch an Oilers game in Edmonton. From Sam Gagner's "8-point night" to Connor McDavid's "100 point season" (which featured two phantom assists), they generally don't consider clearing attempts to be possession.
EDIT: Actually, looks like they did go back and retroactively credit Gaudreau with the assist. I thought it was a bit mean not to give him one on that play.
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