Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:00 am EST
A check from the referee, then a knee to the back of the head, followed by a puck to the noggin, but, finished off with a pretty goal.
It was an eventful shift for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Niklas Hagman last night during their 4-3 overtime loss to Florida. So eventful, he didn't even have the desire to raise his hands and celebrate after the goal. Had Hagman's shift been interrupted by say, a streaker tackling him or a second puck being thrown onto the ice, the producers of CBS' "Worst Week" might have come calling for episode ideas.
Former Leaf Bryan McCabe, in his second game back at Air Canada Centre, scored the game-winner past Vesa Toskala and not Panthers goalie Craig Anderson, which was a relief to Florida fans. Cory Stillman sent the game into the extra frame after putting in a power-play marker with 57 seconds left in the third period.
The win by Florida, coupled with a Carolina loss against Vancouver, helped put them a point ahead of the Hurricanes for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, with two games in hand.
If this isn’t “Goal of Year”, shouldn't it at least win “Hardest Working Goal of the Year”?
Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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24 Comments
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Shouldn't the refs be punished if they interfere in the game by taking a man down and giving one man advantage to the other team? It's kinda like unfair
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Looks like events taking place just before the goal just pissed him off enought to not be denied.
He's no "Pansy" Wow!
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There was also a good amount of time from the silly stuff to him scoring the goal.
Goal of the year IF he got checked by the ref, kneed in the head, etc, and then immediately scored.
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I don't live in Hamilton either - it is the armpit or Ontario (if you don't count Sudbury and pockets of Etobicoke). I'm one of those guys who came from a bad neighbourhood, made good, and wants to give back to his "home" community whenever I can without actually going there.
Anyone who has been to Hamilton recently is either looking for drugs and hos on Barton Street, or just have to cut through it on the QEW or 403.
If the Tigers ever come back to Hamilton, I'll go to a few games at Copps, but I hope they build a new arena in Stoney Creek or Ancaster...
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@beer i have to respectfully disagree. i think his nonchalant "ehhh it was nothing" reaction is supreme cockiness! great shift anyway you slice it. helm is getting the start tonight over leino. you saw what babs said right? love it!
for the rest of you from AK.. "He's been so good, a goal and an assist, a plus-2,so I scratched him today,'' coach Mike Babcock said. "That didn't really make any sense, but he'll be back in the next game (Saturday vs. Edmonton).
"He's been really good, (has) good puck skills, good determination on the puck. As he gets used to the league, he'll get quicker, but he's an NHL player, he's going to be a point-producer.''
bottomline when the playoffs start and people get hurt who has the deepest minors? darren helm: Helm, 22, has collected 31 points (11-20—31) in 37 games with Grand Rapids this season. The recall marks Helm’s third stint with the Wings this year as he appeared in two games in October (vs. the NY Rangers and Vancouver) and one game in November (Montreal). The St. Andrews, Manitoba native also appeared in seven regular season games (0-0—0) and 18 postseason games (2-2—4) with Detroit in 2007-08. ville leino youve tasted and he will be ready to replace any injured wings as will abdelkader! i really cant wait for the nhl to meet jonathon ericsson! he hurt his wrist but he'll be up soon! the future looks bright! its great to be a wings fan!!
WINGS TIL DEATH!! HEY HEY HOCKEYTOWN ACROSS THE USA!!
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