Why do people think ovechkin's "The Goal" is the greatest goal ever?

Question

I can think of three good reasons why it isnt:

1.) They were facing the Phoenix Coyotes. Enough said.
2.) The score was 1-5 before he scored. That goal was unimportant to the game. Had the score been 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, or even 1-3, i would have been more impressed.
3.) Two guys named Mario Lemueix and Wayne Gretzgey. Again, Enough said.

Your Thoughts?

Answer 1

Because people don't realize that there is much more hockey history than that in the present,

That goal was pure luck and any other goaltender would have stopped it. Good effort by Ovechkin, but it was luck.

FYI, this is "The Goal", and should never be used for anyone else:
http://www.jccgv.com/SportsDinner05/images/116BobbyOrrSignedTheGoal.jpg

Answer 2

One of the reasons is that it is the most recent. It's like putting a recent band on a list of all time greatest bands. Happens all the time, because new things are easier to remember.

That being said, Ovechkin's goal is clearly one of the best goals ever.

How many individual goals can you remember?

I can remember one by Lemeiux and one by Gretzky. The Gretzky goal was the one that broke the goal record, nothing spectacular. The Lemieux goal was the move him and Jagr worked on as a joke, the one where you bring the puck back between you legs and flip the puck up from behind your left skate. Marik Malik did it in a shoot-out vs. the Caps last year. So Ovechkin's goal was more astounding than either of those...

Other great goals:

- Forsberg deke to win Olympic gold medal (1st one)

- MAY DAY!

- Bobby Orr.

- The kid from Michigan who scooped the puck off the ground.

- Dale Hunter eliminates Flyers from playoffs on overtime breakaway (OK I'm a Caps fan, sue me)

- OK another Gretzky goal, he bats the puck out of the air baseball style, but a lot of people have this goal, Kariya, Briere (like a few weeks ago)

- Ron Francis had a goal once, the puck bounced real high off the goalie. Francis had his back to the net as the puck came over his head. He hit the puck out of mid-air, went between his legs backwards, and into the net.

So, I think that Ovechkin's goal belongs up there with the greatest goals of all time. Ovechkin's goal plus the first four famous goals that I listed most serious hockey fans can probably remember. That puts Ovechkin's goal in the Top 5 all-time, in my opinion.

The opponents and the current score don't matter that much (it helps certainly). If you're an Ovechkin hater, so be it. It's still an awesome goal... I'm sure you're a Crosby apologist, too...

The "May Day" goal is the best I've seen (too young for the Bobby Orr goal). Check out the video:

1) Lafontaine's pass is sort of like Ovechkin's goal. He's lying down on the ice when he get's it to May.

2) Brad May splits 2 defenders, the second one, Ray Bourque, he completely undresses.

3) The deke on Moog to finish.

4) It's Brad May, a tough guy, not a goal scorer, not in the same league as other guys on the "best goals ever" list.

Answer 3

It was pointless, it didn't help the Capitals win, plus, it was pure luck. Only skill part involved was that he never gave up. Everyone says it is so great, but why don't they go and take a look at Sidney Crosby? He has tons of amazing goals, Ovechkin has.. 1? Nobody looks at the stuff Crosby does because Ovechkin edged out Crosby last season for Rookie of the Year. Now people are starting to realize that Crosby IS better than Ovechkin. The ONLY thing Ovechkin is better at is checking, which doesn't make him better. Crosby has 26 goals, 71 assists, 97 points, and a +/- of 12, Ovechkin has 35 goals, 39 assists, 74 assists, and a +/- of -15. Can you even compare these 2? Crosby will be way more successful in his career, and could be because of Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin, and the never mentioned Sergei Gonchar back at the blue line.

Answer 4

I don't think it was the GREATEST goal ever, but it was amazing. I live in Phoenix (not a Coyotes fan) and I was actually at that game. It was shocking...when Ovechkin scored that goal, it was like the entire building got quiet for a few seconds until they replayed it in the arena. Everyone was just in awe. I had never seen anything like it...the goal and the quiet crowd.

I am a Penguins fan, so I have seen some pretty amazing things from Crosby, Malkin, and Lemieux too...

Answer 5

For anyone who thinks that goal is the best ever check out Sidney Crosby's highlight reel that he's created in just 2 years of playing like someone said ovechkin is a better hitter is because he goes out of his way to hit. Sid could hit if he wanted, but he keeps his head concentrated on scoring and winning and look at The pens record against the caps this season and then compare the two players

Answer 6

It's not the greatest. Evgeni Malkin has an even better goal this year against the Devils. He went through 3 defensemen and had Brodeur turned inside out. And it all started from an awesome pass from Sidney Crosby. In my opinion that was one on the most amazing goals this season and it was definately better than Ovechkin's.

Answer 7

I'm a HUGE Alexander Ovechkin fan, however, I agree, that this goal (although spectacular) was NOT the greatest goal ever. NEWSFLASH...the NHL is reinventing itself, due to the lack of "gate-attracting" players such as Lemieux, Gretzky, Mike Bossy, and a younger version of Teemu Selanne, and even younger Jagr.The emphasis now is higher goal scoring (ie-smaller goalie pads, elimination of the center line, etc.). This goal is just being hyped to promote the league. PS- I'm not sure what was the greatest goal ever, but I'm pretty sure it was scored by Gretzky.

Answer 8

A phrase like "greatest goal ever" is bound to cause some disagreement. But I would rank that goal very high - and perhaps as the best - It's all about degree of difficulty. On his back, facing away from the goal, reaching back over his head (without breaking his arms) and hooking the puck with the curve of his stick. Maybe the goal didn't matter in the course of the game, but it is one incredible goal.

Answer 9

Well I hadn't seen the goal until looking at this question. But I really don't see anything special about it. I've seen lots of similar goals, it really wasn't all that interesting.

Personally the best I have seen (at least this year) was the Evgeni Malkin goal when he danced around half the Devils and beat Brodeur

Answer 10

Looked exactly like one that Bobby Oorr scored almost forty years ago.

Don Cherry shows the Orr goal at the start of his Hockey Night in Canada segment, after the first period, every saturday night. Check it out if you ever get the chance.