A great goal (again) from Ovechkin last night. I posted it over on JABS in the morning links, but it's worth putting up over here, with an accompanying link to the game story.
"The best goal I ever scored," he said. "I just went down and shot."
That got me to thinking, on a very busy Tuesday morning around here -- best goals of the year. Leafs division. NHL division. Send me your choices, and why they moved you so.
Meantime, this one from the Leafs front is worrisome, even on the Leafs scale of worry(1--worried, 2--very worried, 3--hide sharp objects worried, all the way up to 10-- suicidal, at least until the next W, when we're back down to 1 or 2): Bryan McCabe, out due to injury for longer than expected, if the rumbles are to be believed. I'd call that a 3.
(C.Y.)
NHL Division: Jussi Jokinen's shootout goal from Saturday. High marks for both creativity and also keeping his league-best shootout scoring streak going.
Posted by: James Mirtle | January 17, 2006 at 11:18 AM
In the 'leafs' division, Spezza had a minor goal that you may have seen against Theo and the Habs in OT...simply magic...
Made the Habs defenceman look like Aki Berg!
GO SENS!!
Posted by: Shammy | January 17, 2006 at 02:00 PM
Ovechkin is amazing. Top rookie thus far in the NHL, without a doubt.
Posted by: Fred | January 17, 2006 at 02:02 PM
Leafs Division: Steen's goal against the Canucks. Put them within one and gave the game a very exciting finish. Movement: Excited to see a young Leafs Prospect doing so well in the NHL...
Posted by: NR | January 17, 2006 at 02:09 PM
Leafs Goal: Steen agasint Canucks..He also had another nice bullet early in the season..agaisnt the Isles I believe.
Division/Conferenc: Id have say Spezza's goal in OT vs the Habs.
League: Zherdev's coast to coast goal vs Chiago..best goal of the year thus far..Although Stall's goal VS Detorit was good too.
Posted by: Tim G | January 17, 2006 at 02:30 PM
Ovechkin's goal was more of a very bad piece of goaltending by Boucher than anything. Lots of people love this guy that ran away and hid in last year's World Jrs. Gee, I wonder what he'll do in the playoffs if he ever gets there with Washington.
Posted by: Bob Bennett | January 17, 2006 at 03:33 PM
C'mon Bob. He never gave up on the puck -- the D-man did, and Boucher sprawled full out as best he could, thinking play was over. Great body control got him that goal.
Meantime, a set of goals from the Leafs division that were merely nice, but not brilliant: Kilger in Washington, a nifty spin move off a lovely buildup; Wellwood-ANtropov 2-way passing in Montreal Nov 12; Steen vs Anaheim in December, hesitating as he went across goalmouth while goalie went down and defence collapsed. WIll post more tomorrow.
Posted by: cy | January 17, 2006 at 05:19 PM
League: Really - Marek Malik, scoring for the NY Rangers in the shootout on Olaf Kolzig. I haven't seen a goal this pretty in ages. I recognize it's shootout, but man... what a goal.
http://www.badongo.com/vid.php?width=480&id=a73ee715d1128dda233a38b01b9834fd
Posted by: Rivers | January 17, 2006 at 07:37 PM
Ovechkin hid in the 2005 World Junior's Bob? He was named top forward of the tournament as well as to the world junior all-star team. He was one of the top scorers in the tournament. He was injured during the gold medal game against Canada. Alex Steen had a very nice goal against the Canucks, that would be my top pick.
Posted by: Fred | January 18, 2006 at 02:19 AM
Bob Bennett, that was low blow. May be you are Cherry fan and don't like Russians. The boy cried and vowed to tough like Canadians. He tries and tries very hard. He bodychecks the people and not afraid of the fights. He is just here to prove he is good.
A a hockey fan I love to appreciate a player who never gives up and thus this goal was scored.
One more thing he does not need a "Enforcer", he is not a dirty player so far.
So I say praise who deserved and not to be jealous or biased.
Posted by: Alexi Vladimir | January 18, 2006 at 04:43 PM