Something to Rival Nash

[ean 0]

I don't see how anyone who has ever played ice hockey before can actually think that Nash's goal was more impressive than Ovechkin's. Period.

I think of it as luck =/= skill. Is Ovechkin more skilled of a player? Sure. Was it more skilled of a play? Nah.

There was no more luck involved in Ovechkins goal than there was in Nash's. Ovechkin got lucky that the insane shot he made barely tipped through a needle of an opening between goalie stick and goal post. Nash as well got 'lucky' that the puck got loose off the goalie and he was able to kick it back to his forehand. Really no difference.

Now if you want to compare skill...well, for the sake of your point of view, let's just say Ovechkin's skill was getting the shot off, and the rest was luck. I really don't see how anyone could think that pulling through 2 defenders is more skillful than shooting while on your back and having a puck behind your head requiring you to completely re grip your stick in a manner totally unconventional and then on TOP of that getting it ON NET without looking at the net. If you do not consider that skill a dictionary link will have to be posted.

Now if you ask me, both players goals were really all skill, barely if any luck. Good players will make things look so easy that they'll seem "lucky", that's why they're good. Do you think it's a coincidence that Ovechkin, who pulled that goal off, also happened to score 50+ in his rookie season? It's called hockey instinct, the kid was put on the earth to put pucks in the net and that goal was a perfect example.

[mrusse01 0]

Oddly enough, I was debating the Nash goal with my roommate while watching the B's, and Kobasew scored the goal mid-sentence. I personally thought the Nash goal wasn't as impressive as the Ovy goal, mainly since it looked like a defensive breakdown instead of an amazing display of skill (or a one-in-a-million shot), but it's still a very pretty goal.

The skill of the Nash play >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the luck of the Ovechkin play.

Agreed.

The Ovechkin goal is for people who don't play hockey and don't realize it was complete luck. Sure, the dangle was nice, but the goal itself wasn't.

[Law Goalie 147]

I don't entirely see it that way. The fact that Ovechkin's goal went in is not the impressive part; that's entirely due to Tellqvist's incredible ability to quit on plays and the total lack of backchecking. What's impressive is that he was able to make a play towards the goal at all.

I'm also not sure it's terrifically meaningful to compare it to the Nash goal. Toews to Nash is a pretty good comparison - outmanned rush turned into goal through slick moves, a moment of luck, and a blindingly quick play made in that moment.

The Ovechkin goal is less of a great hockey play - since it shouldn't have had a result - and more of a physical marvel.

[CannonBall 0]

I'm not really a fan of Oveckin's goal, it didn't take much skill to get where he did on that goal.

I think he's had way better goals than the one that's being talked about.

Nash's goal was awesome, he used a ton of skill to get to the position he did and then kept track of the puck when it was almost poked away. Some would have given up on the play from their but he kept his eye on the prize.

[TBLfan 25]

I've seen much more impressive goals scored while laying on the ice WITH the goalie in position. If Nash would have scored that goal it would have gotten half the attention.

That doesn't take away Ovechkin's talent or the fact that he didn't give up but it's not nearly as good as this Nash goal. Not only did he make the defense look stupid but he kicked the puck back to his blade and roofed it, it's not like the puck fell on his blade. He didn't give up when he lost control... In fact, It looks like he kicked the puck, it went to his other skate and then he kicked it to his blade and scored.

Ovechkin's goal was nice but he's probably scored 3+ goals that I was more impressed by. Flopping around on the ice and scoring with a goalie waaay out of position isn't impressive to me.