If this is the way the National Hockey League is going, we have no problem with it.
It takes some nerve to try the move Tomas Hertl made legendary earlier this season, especially in the second period of a 1-0 game between two clubs fighting for their playoff lives.
But give Nathan Gerbe credit, all five feet and five inches of him, for pulling out a move even the Carolina Hurricanes best player never saw coming.
“He’s got some sweet hands,” Eric Staal told reporters after Carolina’s 3-2 victory in Philadelphia Wednesday night. “It’s one of those goals I’m sure will be a highlight for a very long time.”
Wednesday’s Philly-Carolina tilt was postponed a day due to a Pennsylvania snowstorm, but Gerbe’s breakaway alone made it worth the 24-hour wait.
After Flyers defenceman Luke Schenn misplayed a pass back to the point, the speedy Gerbe rushed past him and broke in with a tailwind all alone on goalie Steve Mason. Channeling his inner Foligno, Gerbe then faked a shot, backhanded the puck through his own legs and flicked a forehand shot past Mason.
“We were all caught off guard,” Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. “It’s one thing to goof around in practice, but to do it not only in a shootout but on a turnover and a quick breakaway, his mind-set to do it had to be quick. It was a gutsy thing and fun for the fans to watch.”
Gerbe explained that it’s a move he always tries in practice, one he’s pulled out of his bag o’ tricks in junior and minor hockey but never in an NHL contest.
“Right when I picked the puck up, I felt like I had the gap and the speed to do it, and fortunately it went in. I wanted to show I was going to my backhand and tried to pull it through my legs as quick as I can and go far side,” he said. “I like to work on skills, and that was the instance tonight.”
After watching Nathan Gerbe's goal, his 10th of the year, I'm thinking the Sabres might have erred slightly in buying him out.
— Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) January 23, 2014
Watching Nathan Gerbe score pretty goals on TV tonight after watching Ville Leino trip over his own feet last night is kinda depressing.
— Patrick Moran (@PatrickMoranBSD) January 23, 2014
I can't even play dance dance revolution without trippingon my face but Nathan Gerbe can score a goal between his legs
— Cindy (@shutupcindy) January 23, 2014
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