I am not sure he had a chance. The Gate rider had him hoist up with a stick between the legs like a wheelbarrow. That was pure momentum, he didn't have any steering left. At that point he was just a curling stone.
I don't believe the Gate defender set it up nullify a potential goal. (1) Nobody thinks that far in advance and (2) he just saw a guy bearing down on his goalie and the reptile brain said "crush, kill, destroy." That's just good in the paint hockey.
HE HAS TO STOP, I understand he didn’t have anywhere to go if he wanted to be in the play but once you enter the blue paint the rule is clear. The offending player has to stop and do anything to not hit the goalie. Period, stop, end of sentence