Alex Radulov trolls opponent, mocks goal celebration (Video)
Alex Radulov is one of hockey’s most beloved and endearing players.
Oh, wait, check that: He’s a loathsome miscreant.
Exhibit Z: When Radulov and CSKA faced off against Sochi on Sunday. Evgeni Lapenkov of HC Sochi scored on a penalty shot in the second period to give his team a 3-2 lead, and celebrated with a signature “Musketeer pose” as he glided around the ice – hand on hip, stick in the air.
Radulov scored for CSKA just under seven minutes later, on a nice little passing play from Igor Grigorenko. He immediately celebrated by holstering his "sword", which may or may not have been related to Lapenkov’s celebration.
(UPDATE: Reader Jon Rowson notes that Radulov does this move as his signature celebration.)
But then he skated to center ice, faced the Sochi bench, put his hand on his hip and raised his stick in the air, D'Artagnan style, completely mocking his rival's celebration.
Hey, if there’s anyone that’s knows about “all for one” …
When you get past what makes Alex Radulov “Alex Radulov,” he’s a petty darn good hockey player. So he scored again in the third period, completing a 4-point night and leading CSKA to a 5-3 win. Which is, of course, the ultimate troll.
Mocking opponent’s goal celebration is a longstanding (and glorious) tradition in hockey. While Radulov’s was troll-tastic, we think Tom Sestito still wears the crown for this mockery of Nail Yakupov’s hurl-myself-into-the-glass celebration.
Wow … no one’s disrespected Yak like that. Well, other than Dallas Eakins.
