While I was going through the highlights of various games on my NHL Gamecenter app last night, I noticed one particular goal that really stood out to me. The way the play unraveled and the the way the goal went down, it all looked so familiar. I realized shortly after that I had seen that very goal several times before when I was a kid. In fact, I had scored many goals like that when I was a kid…playing NHL 94.
Phil Kessel and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Colorado Avalanche in overtime last night, and Kessel happened to be the game winning goal scorer. He received a pass while streaking up the left wing, took it deep into the zone and past the goal line where he hit the brakes hard. Afterwards, Kessel skated out front and slid the puck quickly between Semyon Varlamov’s pads for the OT winner.
If you’ve never seen the NHL 94 style goal I’m referring to, check out the video below. You can find a great example at the 1:15 mark of the video featuring a goal scored by Mario Lemieux.
The only thing missing from Kessel’s goal was the classic NHL 94 style celebration. Check out his goal below for comparison.
What did you guys think of Kessel’s OT winner last night? Did it immediately remind you of NHL 94 as well? Drop us a note in the comments with your thoughts!
