Five Golden Goals for the Colorado Avalanche

Alex Tanguay‘s Cup-Winning Goal

Colorado Avalanche forward Alex Tanguay’s sniper shot won the second Stanley Cup for the Avs. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Like Sakic’s 600th goal, veteran forward Alex Tanguay’s goal is more impressive in what it accomplishes than in how it looks. It’s a goal born of hard work — and one that just so happens to win the Holy Grail of hockey, the Stanley Cup.

Game 7 of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals. Joe Sakic picks up the puck near the red line. He drives to the net being minded by New Jersey Devils great Martin Brodeur. Sakic shoots, but Brodeur blocks. He gives up the rebound.

Well, who should be there with his high hockey IQ and soft hands but Alex Tanguay. Tangers is actually falling over, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. He gets off a shot that beats Brodeur, putting Colorado up 2-1. The Avs won the game 3-1, so Alex’s goal is the game-winner:

Tanguay got another goal that night as well. He joked to Kyle Keefe that he’d hoped to score even more times. We’ll take the Cup-winner, though, as the most golden of five golden Avalanche goals.