Top 5 goals of the 2019-20 season
With the abundance of talent in today's game, there's no shortage of highlight-reel goals. Players continue to get more creative, finding new ways to bring fans out of their seats.
Now that the 2019-20 regular season is officially behind us, let's look back at the five best goals of the campaign. Vote on your favorite below.
5. Blake Coleman's one-handed wonder
Coleman's outstanding individual effort is a perfect example of why you should never give up on a play.
The Devils' crafty winger outworks Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dmitry Kulikov before catching an unsuspecting Laurent Brossoit deep in his net with a one-handed shovel shot while falling to the ice.
4. Sonny Milano torches Stars
Milano netted only seven goals in 2019-20, but his dazzling marker against the Dallas Stars was one of the filthiest of the season.
The winger walks around a helpless Roope Hintz - a forward who's completely exposed while covering for a defenseman - before going between his legs at high speed with two Stars on his tail. The degree of difficulty here is simply off the charts.
3. Matthew Tkachuk beats the buzzer in style
The timeliness and spontaneity of Tkachuk's incredible last-ditch effort gives him a slight edge over Milano in the between-the-legs-trickery department.
Not only does Tkachuk have the presence of mind to change his shot angle while flying through the slot at full speed, but he places the puck perfectly upstairs with only 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime. The 22-year-old was remarkably clutch that night, as Tkachuk also tied the game in the final minute of regulation.
2. Andrei Svechnikov does it again
Svechnikov's encore after becoming the first player to pull off "The Michigan" in an NHL game was an even better lacrosse-style tally.
Unlike the first time he executed the move, Svechnikov was in motion against the Jets. His ability to scoop the puck while traveling around the net at a high speed and tuck it past the 6-foot-4 Connor Hellebuyck took the awe-inspiring maneuver to another level.
1. McDavid leaves Rielly in the dust
McDavid's first goal in Toronto was one of his finest yet. Burning a player one-on-one in the fashion McDavid did shouldn't be possible at the highest level of hockey.
The Oilers captain hesitates just slightly before turning on the jets, completely duping Morgan Rielly prior to going top shelf for the finish. Being able to shift gears in a split second and put a skilled defenseman like Rielly on his heels is one of many reasons McDavid is the world's top talent.
Honorable mention: Pekka Rinne's 200-foot prayer
Scoring into an empty net is rarely a memorable feat. Unless you're a goalie, of course.
With the Predators up two goals late in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks, Rinne found some space to shoot his shot. The Finnish puck-stopper fired a perfect 200-foot strike to become the first netminder since 2013-14 to score an NHL goal.