Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal against the Washington Capitals that was so stunning it practically broke hockey for a day.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has crazy skill — we all know that. Well, at times it seems to be hibernating — for large periods this season we haven’t seen MacK’s trademark speed, agility or puck-handling.
Well, all of that was on evidence Wednesday night when Nate effected a breakaway goal:
Breathtaking, isn’t it?
The play came in the first five minutes of the third period and cut the Washington Capitals’ lead to just one. They eventually scored an empty-netter for a final score of 5-3, but that takes nothing away from the goal.
I was at the game. Unfortunately, I was on the opposite end of the ice, but as Nathan took off, we all knew — this one was going in. He was chugging down the ice before deftly splitting the defense.
You just love when a pure goal scorer like Nathan MacKinnon makes the defense look foolish — especially when it’s not your defense. We all fondly remember that time MacK broke ankles against the Minnesota Wild:
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After Nate split the Capitals’ defense, it was all a matter of his shot. Colorado has some players with real skill, but they’ve been clutching the stick (by their own admission) and missing the shot — and that includes MacKinnon.
Not this time. It almost looks off-hand the way he scores that goal, like he does it all the time.
Of course, that’s kind of what you expect one of your franchise players to do — and that was evident on Twitter:
Add this to the "how come he only does this every 20 games" file https://t.co/pZtTnuEZGg
— Jeremy Lambert (@jeremylambert88) March 30, 2017
Most fans have just been amazed by the goal itself:
What a goal by Mackinnon😱🔥 https://t.co/zKvCvRHVQV
— Everything Hockey (@EHClothing) March 30, 2017
Me on that Mackinnon goal pic.twitter.com/Hknp19OYoB
— Drew (@Avsfan37) March 30, 2017
Nathan MacKinnon you filthy animal. pic.twitter.com/QAbVdRM96b
— Kliff’s Bedroom (@KliffsBedroom) March 30, 2017
Sick, sick goal by MacKinnon. Multi-deke, yo' mama moves on Caps talk, backhand top shelf cookie. 4-3 Caps
— Adrian Dater (@adater) March 30, 2017
Even the NHL was impressed:
Hey @Mackinnon9.
— NHL (@NHL) March 30, 2017
THAT is insane. https://t.co/9y3rsIT9RQ
As for Nathan MacKinnon himself, he was humble about it, especially since it came during an Avalanche loss. He said during a post game presser:
“It’s always fun to score goals, They’ve been tough to get. It was obviously one of my nicer goals in my career, and it was just fun to score one. It felt good.”
That’s pretty unassuming for a goal that practically broke hockey for a day.