2014 featured an epic Stanley Cup playoff series, the Sochi Winter Olympics and plenty of regular season magic. We picked some of the best goals that highlight a weird, wonderful and emotional year in hockey.
Gustav Nyquist scores amazing OT goal against Senators
Players aren’t supposed to hang onto to the puck that long, but Gustav Nyquist showed how it could work. Nyquist holds onto the puck for an amazing 28 seconds to score an OT goal that won the game. –Kevin Allen
Alec Martinez’s Game 7 goal sends the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup Final
The Martinez goal was probably my second favorite because I believe the Kings won the Cup that night. The winner of that game [the Western Conference Final] was going to beat the Rangers. –Kevin Allen
Martin St. Louis’ goal on Mother’s Day
Seems like it was scripted in Hollywood. He scores the opening goal in the Rangers’ first home game since his mother died. Not a pretty goal – a rebound bounced in off his leg – but very important as the Rangers won 3-1 to force a Game 7 vs. the Penguins. –Mike Brehm
Vladimir Tarasenko’s one-handed goal
Jussi Jokinen, the master of the Forsberg move in shootouts, says that would be a tough move if someone is chasing you on a breakaway. Well, Tarasenko did exactly that, plus weaved through three defenders to get to the net. –Mike Brehm
Patrick Kane scores to force a Western Conference Final Game 7
The matchup between the two former Stanley Cup winners had some of the best and most exciting hockey every played. Kaner’s goal with 3:45 left in the third period gave fans one more game between two of the best teams in the league. –Hemal Jhaveri
Alex Ovechkin scores while falling down
Is there anything the Great 8 can’t do? With Washington battling to stay in playoff contention this season, it’s magic like this from their captain that keeps them going. –Hemal Jhaveri
T.J. Oshie’s Olympic shootout winner over Russia
T.J. Oshie scores for Team USA at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Oshie’s shootout performance for Team USA during the 2014 Sochi Olympics made him a celebrity, something even the White House tweeted about. It showed amazing skill and put hockey in the limelight for once. –Jimmy Hascup
Tyler Ennis scores against Carey Price
In a Nov. 28 tilt against the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres forward Tyler Ennis scored the goal of the night in the first period. Ennis skated past Canadiens defenseman Alexi Emelin down the right side and fired a hard initial shot on goaltender Carey Price. Price made the save and the puck bounced right back to Ennis, allowing him to backhand the puck into Price’s net while trying not to fall after tripping over the goaltender’s leg. –Kristen Shilton
