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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”?

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24 Comments

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  1. James P
    1. Posted by James P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Niklas Hagman has this scary angry viking 'I'm gonna burn your village and rape your wives' face.
  2. Steve B
    2. Posted by Steve B Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    He's alright, he is a hockey player.
  3. sleza
    3. Posted by sleza Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    He looks like blond teddy bear
    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
  4. swrbuffalo
    4. Posted by swrbuffalo Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:52 pm EDT

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    Hagman - hope they get easier for you, that looked exhausting.
  5. swrbuffalo
    5. Posted by swrbuffalo Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:52 pm EDT

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    However I hope you get smoked tonight when you step into HSBC Arena.
  6. knucklehead
    6. Posted by knucklehead Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    1st a forearm shiver in the chops, then the puck smacks him in the face, then he scores a goal like this?
    Looks like events taking place just before the goal just pissed him off enought to not be denied.
    He's no "Pansy" Wow!
  7. zephyr
    7. Posted by zephyr Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    Dunno...pretty cool but doesn't seem like a big deal. Guys get hit and slashed all the time while wheeling the puck in for a goal.
    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.
  8. banginpanger.com
    8. Posted by banginpanger.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    He's got a future in Capital One commercials.
  9. thejeffler
    9. Posted by thejeffler Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    Thanks for using my clip. IMHO its definitely hardest working goal of the year, possibly goal of the year, and definitely "the most played down goal of the year because a Leaf scored it and the Leafs have to suck at everything omg 1967" award winner.
  10. beer_man_beer_here
    10. Posted by beer_man_beer_here Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    I think that the celebration afterwards should factor into the deciding of whether it is the goal of the season...No style points for acting like you pull that off every other game...
  11. Hamilton Tigers
    11. Posted by Hamilton Tigers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    And with this goal, Steve Simmons and the Toronto Sun have begun to re-distribute maps for the 2009 Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup parade...
  12. The Great One
    12. Posted by The Great One Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    If every player on Toronto played with that kind of heart, they might make a run at Florida for the eight seed.
  13. Don Squeek
    13. Posted by Don Squeek Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    It was a pretty finish. Hard work??? Im not that sure getting knocked around is considered hard work, taking a puck in the face probably knocked the cob webs out from the knee to the head but he managed to finish so A- from me.
  14. Curt S
    14. Posted by Curt S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Hagman is actually Shaq. You don't wanna make him angry, cuz when he's angry he does things like score goals (win championships).
  15. L-Money
    15. Posted by L-Money Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    Hey "Hamilton Tigers", the Leafs may not be winning a cup anytime soon but at least we don't live in Hamilton, the armpit of Ontario.
  16. Hamilton Tigers
    16. Posted by Hamilton Tigers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    @Leo Mastoras:
    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...
  17. Matt R
    17. Posted by Matt R Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    Nah, the armpit of Ontario is probably Sarnia. Hamilton's definitely top three though.
  18. Holly
    18. Posted by Holly Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

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    so does that make windsor the dirty groin of ontario?
  19. CUP#12
    19. Posted by CUP#12 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    can detroit qualify as that armpit? just saying.. i mean it is detroit AND it is located kind of down the "arm" of canada. idk its still early for me.
    @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!!
  20. leaffan93
    20. Posted by leaffan93 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:37 pm EDT

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    what a mish..
  21. Living Legend
    21. Posted by Living Legend Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    It at least earned the Holy Mackinaw, anyway.
  22. davecooke
    22. Posted by davecooke Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    OK, settle down Leaf Nation. Hagman IS the best the Leafs have to offer(redundant) and that WAS a beautiful goal! Hope the Capitals' scouts were at that game....Hagman'd look great alongside Fedorov, or Backstrom, or Vechie in the Finals in June '09. Now go on and looooooooose the rest of the games this season Leafs...please!!! You need this Jonathan Tavares kid.... NEED HIM to rebuild your "storied franchise" around. He and Schenn are a Datsyuk/Lidstrom, Crosby/Gonchar, or Ovechkin/Green, of the future.
  23. Slodeth
    23. Posted by Slodeth Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Tough night at the office for Hagman.
  24. tsuna_arashi
    24. Posted by tsuna_arashi Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

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    That's Haggy

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