Sorry, Sid. We may have a new goal of the year candidate.
On the same night the Vegas Golden Knight retired the number 58 in honor of the October 1 mass shooting victims, William Karlsson scored a sensational goal that will be on highlight reels everywhere.
Video
Goal of the year? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CBfB1QWhE3
— NHL (@NHL) April 1, 2018
8:35 into the third period, Karlsson stole a pass to the point and raced in all alone on a breakaway.
As Karlsson approached the net, Sharks goaltender Martin Jones aggressively tried to pokecheck the puck away. Karlsson made him pay.
Karlsson slipped the puck and his stick behind his legs flipping the biscuit over Jones’ right shoulder.
The Vegas Golden Knights would win 3-2. Karlsson’s tally was the game winner.
THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS ARE THE 2017-18 PACIFIC DIVISION CHAMPIONS!#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/IeIQCE9zYB
— y – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 1, 2018
The goal is Karlsson’s 42nd goal of the season which ranks him third in the NHL, tied with Evgeni Malkin. He sits three goals behind Alex Ovechkin for the league lead.
Last season, Karlsson scored six goals for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ahead of the Expansion Draft, the Blue Jackets traded their 2017 first round pick, 24th overall, a second round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and forward David Clarkson so the Vegas Golden Knights would select Karlsson over another player.
“We knew a player we didn’t want to lose was going to be taken in this year’s Expansion Draft, but our goal was to try to keep the core of our team intact,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said at the time. “While we didn’t want to lose William Karlsson as he has been a good player for us, we believe this deal keeps our core group together and gives us additional financial flexibility to build on the success we had last season.”
I bet Jarmo wishes he could have a mulligan on that decision right about now.
