Infamous botched goal by Oilers changed the course of NHL history

The in-game sequence, which occurred on January 4, 2007, remains one of the most stunning in NHL history.

With Dallas leading 5-4 and approximately 10 seconds remaining, Patrik Stefan stripped an Oilers defender and skated toward a wide-open net. As he attempted a backhand tap-in, the puck hit a rut in the ice and bounced over his stick.

The Oilers quickly transitioned up the ice, where Ales Hemsky scored the game-tying goal with just two seconds left on the clock. Edmonton would lose the game, but that is hardly the point of this article.

The single point Edmonton earned for the overtime loss moved them from 5th-worst to 6th-worst in the final standings. This allowed the Chicago Blackhawks to keep the 5th-worst spot, which they used to win the draft lottery and select Patrick Kane.

Except, the real miracle wouldn't be for another eight-years, in the 2015 NHL Draft, when Edmonton selected Connor McDavid with the 1st-overall pick.

This would not have occurred had the Oilers won the 2007 draft lottery and selected the undisputed top-pick from that year, Patrick Kane.

So, Edmonton may not have had the 1st-overall pick in 2015, with which to select McDavid.

And, Chicago may not have won two Stanley Cups, had they not selected Kane.

In the end, I believe the Blackhawks were happy with Kane and the Oilers with McDavid.

In the end, it went the way it was meant to go.

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