Top 5 NHL Goals
Who scored the most well-known NHL goals?
- Alex Ovechkin
- Andrei Svechnikov
- Mario Lemieux
- Jaromir Jagr
- Denis Savard
1. Alex Ovechkin
On January 16, 2006, Alex Ovechkin scored one of the most memorable goals in NHL history. Ovechkin and the Capitals were playing against the Phoenix Coyotes. While skating down the ice, Ovechkin secured the puck in the offensive zone and attempted to toe-drag his shot. However, Ovechkin’s skate toe caught the ice, and he began to fall. Ovechkin then twirled around onto his back and managed to make the shot from the ground, beating goaltender Brian Boucher. This goal has been referred to as “The Goal” by fans of NHL ever since, but Ovechkin just deems the goal as a lucky but beautiful goal. This incredible goal helped kick off an iconic player’s career in the NHL and even made it into a Super Bowl commercial.
2. Andrei Svechnikov
“The Michigan” goal was created back in 1996 by Mike Legg, a hockey player for the University of Michigan. Legg scored the goal during the 1996 NCAA Tournament, and his stick was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame. This goal is a lacrosse-style goal, where the player goes around the back of the goal, or crease, and balances the puck on the stick’s blade to throw it into the top of the net. Although the goal was created back in 1996, it took 23 years for anyone in the NHL to successfully complete it. However, in 2019, Andrei Svechnikov perfectly executed “the Michigan” for the Carolina Hurricanes during a game against the Calgary Flames. Svechnikov then executed the goal perfectly again against the Winnipeg Jets. This was deemed extra impressive because the second goal execution was against one of the best goaltenders of the 2019-2020 season, Connor Hellebuyck.
3. Mario Lemieux
This goal took place during game two of the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals. Mario Lemieux was representing the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Minnesota North Stars, and would pull off one of his most iconic goals in NHL history. Lemieux began from the neutral zone and once he received the puck, began weaving past defenders and made it up to the goaltender, Jon Casey. Lemieux put the puck in between Shawn Chambers’ legs and finally scored a backhand goal. This moment helped lead the Penguins to victory when they finally won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Lemieux also earned the Conn Smythe Trophy with 12 points in the Stanley Cup Finals. There is a plaque in Consol Energy Center commemorating the iconic goal.
4. Jaromir Jagr
The Pittsburgh Penguins were down 4-1 against the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992 during game one in order to eventually advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Nineteen-year-old Jaromir Jagr knew that his team needed help fast in order to make a quick comeback during the game. Jagr intercepted a clearing attempt made by the Blackhawk’s Brent Sutter. Jagr deked around Dirk Graham, then around Sutter immediately after his failed clearing attempt, and finally around the third defender Frantisek Kucera. Jagr then used his incredible stick handling skills to beat Ed Belfour and made an incredible goal all by himself. Mario Lemieux called it one of the greatest goals he had ever seen, which is a big compliment considering Lemiuex’s scoring history. This goal also helped kickstart the Penguins back to victory during the game, and immediately after Jagr’s goal, Mario Lemieux scored with 15 seconds left to help the Penguins win the game.
5. Denis Savard
Savard, a player for the Chicago Blackhawks, scored an incredible goal in 1988 against the Edmonton Oilers by deking three players without the help of any other members of his team. However, his final move was what really made this goal memorable. Savard passed the puck through seven-time all-star defenseman Kevin Lowe of the Oilers and finally scored the goal. Savard broke a 3-3 tie and scored on goaltender Grant Fuhr. This goal is an incredible reflection of what Savard did consistently for the Blackhawks, which was to score amazing goals to bring his team to victory. During his 13 seasons with the Blackhawks, Savard had totaled 473 goals along with 1,338 points. Although his team failed to defeat the Oilers, they did have an amazing skill matchup and battles throughout the many years against each other.
FAQ
What is a hockey goal called?
In hockey, a goal is simply called a goal. Players can score a goal by shooting the puck into the net that is defended by a goalie or goaltender. The goal must cross the line and go in between the two posts where the goalie is defending for the goal to be scored and officially counted.
What are 3 goals in hockey called?
A hat trick in hockey is when a single player scores three goals in a game. The term hat trick was popularized in the 1940s. When a player successfully pulls off a hat trick during a game, fans uphold a tradition where they will throw their hats onto the ice. This is especially true when a hat trick is completed at the home arena. A natural hat trick occurs when three goals are scored in a row by the same player.
How do you score a goal in hockey?
During an ice hockey game, a player can successfully make a goal when they maneuver the puck around the defenders and shoot it past the goaltender. The puck must pass the line in between the two goal posts and below the goal bar at the top of the goal. A player must use their stick to shoot the puck into the goal, and the goaltender will try to stop it from going into the goal.