Oliver Ekman-Larsson sets NHL record for most game-winning goals by a defenseman

The NHL’s late box score adjustment to the Arizona Coyotes’ 3-1 win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday had quite an interesting consequence.

Martin Hanzal’s first of two goals was taken away and rewarded to Arizona teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson, giving the defenseman his 20th goal of the season.

More impressively, the late-awarded goal gave Ekman-Larsson the new NHL record for game-winning goals by a defenseman in a season.

#Coyotes d-man @OEL_23 now has 20 goals in 2015-16 and has set the NHL record for game-winning goals in a season by a defenseman with 8

— Greg Dillard (@GregDillard) March 26, 2016

Ekman-Larsson became just the second defenseman in Coyotes franchise history to score 20 goals in two straight seasons, joining former Winnipeg player Phil Housley, who did the deed in 1990-91 and 1991-92.

The goal, initially credited to Hanzal early in the second period, gave Arizona a 2-1 lead and was followed by Hanzal’s short-handed insurance score in the third.

Ekman-Larsson has eight games, including the Coyotes’ home matchup against Philadelphia on Saturday night, to add to his record-setting season.

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