Friday 28 March 2008

Dangling With The Stars

It's fun to watch fabulous players skate like the wind while walking around four or five players to score a beauty goal. Guys like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Overchkin, Jonathan Toews, and Peter Stastny are the new generation of stars who seemingly have the puck on a string while they skate the length of the ice. There have been many players that have had this skill through the years, most notably Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Peter Forsberg, and Pavel Bure. The art of dangling - walking around players like they aren't even there - is a skill that takes innovation, creativity, and great puck control skills. When done wrong, it's a monster turnover. When done right, though, it's art.

Here some absolutely amazing efforts by some of the bonafide stars of the NHL. Creativity and puck control is served up like it's a buffet here.


TSN's Top 10 Dangles.


Jonathan Toews looks like he's playing pond hockey.


Rick Nash demonstrates the "How's She Goin'?".


Evgeni Malkin goes inside-out on the Devils.


Honestly, when you see goals like this, it electrifies everyone. Highlight reels queue them up over and over as they are dazzling displays art and skill in a violent and rough game.

And that's why hockey is so good. It's the only place where you can witness the combination of immense talent and jaw-dropping skills on ice. I feel for some of the goalies in those highlights, though. It's their job to stop what seems to be an inevitable highlight reel goal. Most often, they're fishing the puck out of the net behind them.

I'll have some updates from the Sledge Hockey World Championships this weekend, as well as the clearer playoff picture as teams start falling off the radar for playoff spots.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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