Classic Nathan MacKinnon
So, while not all of these goals will be a version of the Nate Dawg Special, let’s take a look at the classic MacKinnon goal.
The play starts in the Avalanche’s zone. MacKinnon receives the puck and powers up the ice. The Carolina player is left well behind with the second stride, so Colorado goes on a two-on one rush.
MacKinnon puts on the jets. As he glides into the offensive zone, he decreases his speed and starts the chop suey stick movement that’s a hallmark of his game.
At that point, you can almost see the game from MacKinnon’s speed. Even though the play is moving so fast, he’s put himself in such a position that when he stops dicing the puck, he almost seems to have all the time in the world to score:
MacKinnon’s wrist shot is such a thing of beauty. He shot that puck right up there where Mamma keeps the Landeskotch.