VIDEO: Ducks' Kesler gets his clock cleaned setting up bizarre goal

The Anaheim Ducks scored a bizarre goal late in the first period of their matinee contest against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

The scoring opportunity was set up by Ducks center Ryan Kesler, who entered the offensive zone with control and passed the puck to Patrick Maroon moments before being absolutely flattened by black-and-blue Blackhawks defender Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Kesler took the hit to make the play, but it probably didn't unfold the way the former Selke trophy-winner had envisioned. Maroon uncorked a massive slap shot on Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford, who deflected the puck up and off the glass. From there it took a funny, slow hop back into the slot, where Ducks defender Hampus Lindholm cleverly batted the puck out of midair and into the net.

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

Quixotic happenstance makes for fun sequences of hockey, the sort that everybody can enjoy. Well, except for the victimized goaltender.