Goal of the Day - Evgeni Malkin 2006 World Championships

At the 2006 World Championship, Malkin shows his anticipation and incredible reach scoring this superman goal against Kazakhstan.

Conn Smythe anyone?

Goal of the Day - Stephane Matteau - 1994 OT vs the Devils

Seeing as how my assumptions have been horribly off I'm going to use a bit of reverse psychology here. Rangers have a good chance to surprise the Pens again tonight, this time at the Igloo in Pittsburgh. Hehe.

Stephane Matteau's OT goal in Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals sent the Rangers on their way to their first Stanley Cup in FIFTY-FOUR YEARS!!

By the way, it went of Slava Fetisov's stick, but I guess Howie Rose thought "MATTEAU MATTEAU!! STEPHANE MATTEAU!" sounded a whole lot better than "FETISOV! FETISOV!! VYACHESLAV FETISOV'S STICK!!"

It's 13 years later....I'm not bitter.

Goal of the Day - Bret Hull, 1999 Stanley Cup winner

I find this goal fitting for today as the Stars have another chance to eliminate the Sharks tonight.

Also, it's a reminder that horrible officiating is nothing new to the NHL Play-Offs.

Goal of the Day - Jaromir Jagr, '92 Cup Finals: Is #68 playing in his last NHL game tonight?

In Game 3 of the Rangers/Penguins series Jaromir Jagr showed glimpses of the unequivocal talent that brought him to prominence. While it is no secret that Jagr has lost a step, he is still capable of being the best player on the ice even when in the company of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

This goal scored against the Chicago Blackhawks (sorry Mike) in the 1992 Stanley Cup finals wasn't just another pretty goal by the then-20 year old Czech. It was a sign of a star bursting through the hockey universe. With superstar Mario Lemieux side-lined, Jagr dismantled the Hawks and silenced Chi-town helping the Pens capture their second straight Stanley Cup.

If Jagr's former team sweeps the Rangers tonight it may very well be the last time Jaromir Jagr skates as a member of an NHL team. Jagr's contract stipulated an extension would be put in place if he amassed 84 points in the regular season or won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Jagr has failed to meet the first requirement and the possibility of him meeting the second is linked with the Rangers' post-season lifeline. In all likelyhood, Jagr's expires at around 10 pm tonight after which the only certainty is uncertainty.

It is widely publicized that Jagr wishes to finish his career in Europe. First in Russia where he was reborn playing for Avangard Omsk and then possibly for his hometown Kladno in the Czech Republic.

Recently there was rumblings that Dynamo Moscow offered Jagr $12 million US to play in Russia next season. While I doubt that Jagr will play for a Russian squad other than Omsk, I have no doubt that he will be able to garner a paycheck of such proportions. And with the maximum Russian income tax being half of what is mandated in the US, that salary looks even better. It is also a salary the New York Rangers cannot match due to the NHL's stringent salary cap structure.

Only time will tell whether Jagr opens next season in Prague as a member of the Rangers, in North America once again vying for the Stanley Cup, or in Russia helping to build the new Continental League. Either way, Jagr has put on displays of tremendous amounts skill and power that are rarely seen in a game that is not lacking in either category.
Those that have seen him play can say they have seen one of the greatest in history.

Goal of the Day - Pavel Datsyuk Shootout vs. Nashville

The man is bow-legged and pigeon-toed. Stand up and put your legs into this position.

That's how he can pull this move off and we can't.

Datsyuk is one of the games most dangerous offensive weapons. He's also one of the most stingy defensive forwards. And he never takes penalties. And in 1998 there were 170 players taken before him.

Damn you Ken Holland!

Play of the Day: Hart to Hart (Finalist)

One of my favorite plays from the 2007-2008 NHL season.

Explosive, astounding, entertaining. I'm not sure what impressed me more, the fact that Malkin basically shrugged of a blind-side hit from the 220 lb Ovechkin or that Ovechkin lost sight of Malkin for a mere split-second while airborn and retains all composure as he absorbs an incredible impact that could have winded most NHLers.

Ahh, what could have been. Leave it to Tom Poti to ruin my dreams.

Goal of the Day - Darern McCarty (Versus Promo)

Unfortunately this is the best quality footage of this goal I could find.

Not a bad voice over except they fail to mention that McCarty's name is on the Stanley Cup not once, not twice, but three times. A testament to how important it is to get the right mix of players on the ice and in the locker room.

McCarty has a good shot at his fourth ring as he is back with the Wings this year.

Goal of the Day: Jordan Staal Shortanded

The talk surrounding Rangers/Pens series has mostly been about Crosby, Malkin, Jagr, and Avery and all with good reason. Two of the brightest stars in years, one of the greatest of all-time, and a super-pest that dominated the last series. Lost in the shuffle are Marian Hossa and Jordan Staal.

Hossa is a still a world class talent and a game-breaker at both ends of the ice. He is explosive in the neutral zone, possesses incredible hands and a lethal shot as well as extraordinary defensive skills.

Staal suffered from a huge sophomore slump this year scoring 17 less goals, 16 less points than 06-07. His +/- dropped almost 20 points as well. However, I think he might come out of this series with a few points.

Goal of the Day: Evgeni Malkin - Shades of Mario

Even a Devils fan has to appreciate the way Geno schools Marty.