Did ESPYs nom Ovie's best play?
- Friday, June 26, 2009 10:07 PM
- Written By: Josh Marks
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin nabbed two ESPY Awards nominations for Best Play and Best NHL Player. The nominations come as no surprise to hockey fans who have watched the Russian contortionist-on-ice score goals that would make even the The Flying Karamazov Brothers drop whatever they were juggling to drop their jaws.
However, some discerning fans might take issue with the play chosen. Ovechkin's goal against the Rangers was no doubt amazing -- he turned three New York defenders into human practice cones as he stick-handled around the helpless Blueshirts en-route to stuffing it past a stunned Henrik Lundqvist and into the back of the net. That the goal took place in the playoffs makes it even more special.
But in my mind Ovechkin's regular season goal against Montreal was even more spectacular and should have been chosen as the Best Play. While the Habs were moving the puck out of their zone and into the neutral zone, Ovechkin took advantage of a quick line change, raced across the ice, bounced the puck off the boards to himself, charged towards the Montreal net while being chased and eventually pulled down by a late-arriving defender, then while sliding on the side of his back he somehow kept control of the puck and somehow found an opening to shoot the puck past the goalie.
Here are the two plays. You decide:
Nominated goal against Rangers:
Montreal goal:
The ESPY Awards will be broadcast Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. EST (6 p.m. PST) on ESPN. The winners are determined by fan vote. To cast your ballot go to ESPYS.tv.
