A few great goals

Okay, I got a few of you to bite on the best goals of the year list. And I had a look at my notes on Leafs games this year -- I've done that for about two-thirds of their games so far, so I may have missed some good 'uns, but with this team, I kinda doubt it -- to come up with this set of highlights courtesy of the "NHL Highlight Machine" which for those of us of a certain vintage, brings back memories of George Michael. No, not that George Michael. This one.)

Anyway, here we go, Leafs division:

Alexander Steen, at Vancouver Jan. 10. The choice of a couple of you, a deke and a wicked backhand as he's being hooked to the ice. As I mentioned above, there isn't much in the Leafs vault this year -- lots of McCabe and Tucker one-timers on the PP, and some nice passing combinations courtesy of Sundin, Steen, Allison and Wellwood, primarily, but this is pretty much the only real "whoa!" moment that I know of.

Tim Connolly, Buffalo vs Toronto, Nov. 11. What a nice deke, and finish.

Erik Cole, Carolina at Toronto, Oct. 20. Strong swoop, long-armed half deke and one-handed finish. Pretty.

And from the NHL at large:

Jason Spezza, vs Montreal. Memorable.

Steve Yzerman, at Carolina. He can still do it.

Nik Zherdev, vs Chicago. Especially love the Bobby Orr flourish at the end.

I'm not including shootout goals, 'cause bah, they're a humbug. Thanks to Rivers for the Malik link, though, from earlier in the year, and James Mirtle casts a vote for Jokinen's nifty little brainwave from the weekend which is buried in the NHL package -- JM is doing a far better job digesting this season than this space, including this bit where yes, there is an I in Team after all. I as in Implosion, that is.

We'll keep this open -- More of your favourite goals, please! With video, if possible, and it'll be my dime on the hosting.

(C.Y.)

Comments

[Dan]

Marik "The Sheik" Malik's shootout goal!!