Play of the Night: Nicklas Backstrom’s Perfect Cross-Ice Pass Gives Caps Victory (GIF)

February 17, 2015 11:59 pm

Nicklas Backstrom doesn’t go to All-Star Games, receive NHL Awards, or get much attention of any kind. He’s just quietly one of the best players in the league making world-class plays every night.

On Tuesday, the NHL’s leading assist man delivered another juicy apple– this time to Joel Ward during a five-on-three power play. Backstrom, in the corner, fired a perfect cross-ice, cross-crease pass to Ward who one-timed the puck past Marc-Andre Fluery. It would stand as the game-winning goal and Nicky’s 44th assist.

It’s awesome at every angle.

Here’s a slo-mo from Dan Steinberg.

CSN Washington’s Craig Laughlin lost his mind after watching the replay. “How about Nick Backstrom?” asked Locker. “Coolest guy in the biz. How does he make that pass? I don’t know how the heck anybody has that calm, but Nick Backstrom has it. I don’t know why he’s not an all-star and he’s not a trophy-winner. He’s just the best in the biz setting up the power play. He had to put that over and under sticks, Al Koken, and it lands flat on Joel Ward’s stick. Incredible.”

And maybe we’ll even see it on SportsCenter later tonight.