Watch Jonathan Quick’s gaffe lead to Ryan McDonagh goal (Video)

With the New York Rangers holding a 2-1 lead early in the third period and about to kill a penalty, they received a gift from Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick. After a defensive zone face-off, Ryan McDonagh grabbed the puck and dumped it off the boards down towards the LA end. What he didn't expect was that he would end up scoring the oddest goal of his career:

Quick loses his stick as he tries to stop the puck, but his body positioning allowed for it to re-direct off his blocker and right into his own net. It's the most fortunate shorthanded goal McDonagh will ever score in his career. Afterward he told MSG television that he didn't even see the puck go in and knew something good had happened when he noticed Dan Girardi and Brian Boyle start celebrating.

(If you're taking notes at home, the NHL.com play-by-play chart measured it at 163 feet.)

The look on Kings head coach Darryl Sutter's face says it all, and at the same time you can hear everyone inside Staples Center trying to process what just happened. All the excitement about getting an opportunity to tie the game on a power play was quickly washed away.

Quick maintained his composure afterward while facing the media, but you could tell from the video that he could have done without the questions. "You're trying to stop the puck for your teammates," he said. "That's the thought process ... Everybody gives up bad goals. That's part of the game."

Said Sutter: "He dropped his stick. What do you want me to talk about? Tell him not to drop his stick?"

The Rangers would hang on for a 3-1 victory as McDonagh and Quick teamed up for an early contender for goofy goal of the year.

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy