Reto Berra scores goal for the Lake Erie Monsters in AHL game (Video)

By Vinnie Criscenzo | Jan 17, 2015

Oct 13, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Reto Berra (20) reacts during the third period against the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Goalie Reto Berra scored a goal for the Lake Erie Monsters in an AHL game.

Being a goaltender, you don’t get to see your name on the score sheet too often. Once in awhile, a goalie will get an assist and a rare appearance on the score sheet. So, I think it’s in every goalies’ mind to get a goal when the opportunity presents itself.

The opportunity is there when the opposing team pulls their goaltender for an extra attacker. We’ve seen several different goaltenders try this in the NHL. Goalies such as Ron Hextall, Martin Brodeur, Chris Osgood and Mike Smith have all been credited with hitting the empty net and recording a goal. Ron Hextall and Martin Brodeur have actually done it twice.

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Even though it’s an empty net, it’s not an easy thing to do. The desired target is 200 feet away, so you have to be pretty accurate and have pretty decent puck handling skills. Not many goalies like handling the puck, but the names on the list of goalies that have scored goals are all goalies who are known for having good puck handling skills.

Reto Berra is another goaltender with decent puck handling skills. Berra started his career with the Calgary Flames in 2013, but was traded later that year to the Colorado Avalanche, where he has been for the past couple years. Berra has struggled for the Avalanche though, which has led to him being sent down to their AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, on a conditioning stint.

Players are allowed to be sent down on conditioning stints without having to clear waivers for two weeks. If the player stays beyond the two weeks, he would then need to clear waivers to stay.

Berra was playing his first game for the monsters last night against the Chicago Wolves. The monsters had a 3-1 with time winding down, and Chicago decided to pull their goalie for an extra attacker to try and tie the game up. Chicago started skating up through the neutral zone and dumped the puck in the Lake Erie zone. Berra had enough time to get the puck and shoot it down the ice toward the empty net.

He hit dead center.

As you can see from his excitement, it’s a big accomplishment for a goaltender to score a goal. Chicago didn’t seem to appreciate the celebration though.

Lake Erie ended up winning the game 5-1, with Berra stopping 21 of 22 shots along with scoring the goal. He became just the 11th goalie in AHL history to score a goal.

H/T USA Today Sports

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