The rare feat of scoring twice during a single penalty kill
In short: In the high-speed world of professional hockey, certain statistical anomalies defy logic. On February 27, 2014, Michael Grabner achieved one such rarity: scoring two shorthanded goals on the exact same penalty kill in just 46 seconds. It remains a landmark moment of offensive audacity.
Michael Grabner’s journey to this feat began in Villach, Austria, where he started playing hockey at age five. Seeking an NHL path, he moved to North America at 17 to join the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). His draft stock surged during his second year in Canada after he scored 22 goals in just 23 games, leading the Vancouver Canucks to select him 14th overall in 2006—a position that surprised Grabner, who had been projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick.
Grabner’s professional career was defined by movement across the NHL's most storied franchises. After stints with the Manitoba Moose and Vancouver Canucks, he was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2010 before being claimed by the New York Islanders. It was with the Islanders that Grabner truly flourished, winning the fastest skater competition at the 2011 SuperSkills and earning a Calder Memorial Trophy nomination for his rookie season performance.
The 'rare feat' occurred during a 5-4 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014. While Ryan O'Reilly had previously achieved two shorthanded goals on one penalty kill in 2010, he did so during a four-minute power play. Grabner’s achievement was distinct because he accomplished it during a standard two-minute penalty. He eventually became the 11th player in history to complete the 'Hudson River Triple,' having played for the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils.
Despite his offensive highlights, Grabner's career also saw significant hurdles, including an eye injury that sidelined him for much of a season with the Arizona Coyotes. Even while playing only half a season in 2018-19, he finished first in the NHL in shorthanded goals, scoring six of his nine total goals while shorthanded.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Michael Grabner
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