BY PAT PICKENS
In the spirit of Nail Yakupov’s screaming knee slide Thursday night, we celebrate the top 10 NHL goal celebrations of all time.
10. Darius Kasparaitis beats Buffalo: The enforcer is widely remembered for drawing his opponent’s ire, yet in 2001, “Kasper” played the hero, and dove to celebrate.
9. Randy McKay climbs the glass: The New Jersey Devils tough guy was so excited to score in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against Boston that he wanted to share is exuberance with the Devils fans.
8. Mike Bossy’s running man: The New York Islanders legend also authored one of the most iconic images in NHL history when he scored his 50th goal in New York’s 50th game in 1981.
7. Ovechkin’s hot stick: The Washington Capitals superstar found a super way to celebrate his 50th goal in 2008-09. It also drew the ire of every one of Ovechkin’s critics.
6. Teemu Selanne’s gun salute: The Finnish Flash authored this hunting display in 1993 and was smart enough to shoot down his glove, not aim at his opponent. Somewhere, Artem Anisimov is nodding in agreement.
5. Nail Yakupov’s knee slide: The Edmonton Oilers rookie’s game-tying goal at Rexall Place on Thursday night was timely, and his celebration was one for the ages.
4. Zigmund Palffy and Travis Green kiss: Palffy had gone four games without scoring a goal, so when he beat Martin Brodeur, he decided to seal his power-play goal against the New Jersey Devils with a kiss.
3. May Day: Brad May’s series-clinching goal against the Boston Bruins in 1993 is most remembered for Rick Jeanneret’s famous “May Day!” call, but give credit to the former tough guy, and Dominik Hasek, for a celebration to match.
2. Theo Fleury’s slide: The diminutive Calgary Flames forward picked a terrific time to score his only goal of the 1991 Smythe Division semis against the Oilers. His celebration deserves applause, as well.
1. Tiger Williams rides the stick: C’mon. What’s better than this?
