There is now a clubhouse leader for goal of the year in the NHL. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar put on an absolute clinic against the Chicago Blackhawks defense on Tuesday night and was able to lift his team to an overtime victory in the process.
About midway through overtime, Makar was handling the puck behind the net before appearing to skate back out towards the blue line. However, Makar completely stopped on a dime, spun away from Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach and made a direct line for the net.
He was able to then fool Marc-Andre Fleury and lift a backhanded shot into the net for the game-winning goal. You truly have to see this one to believe it:
The spectacular tally gave the Avalanche a 4-3 win over the Blackhawks.
After the game, the internet was buzzing due to the insanity of Makar's goal. However, Makar didn't see what all the fuss was about and called it "a little bit lucky."
"For me, it was a little lucky to be honest," he told Colorado Hockey Now after the game. "Their D, whoever their name was, he overcommitted a little on me."
The goal was Makar's 14th of the season and there's still more than half of the 2021-22 regular season remaining. He could end up having one of the more impressive goal-scoring seasons that has been seen for a defenseman since Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green registered 31 goals during the 2008-09 season.
At this rate, Makar has to be considered one of the frontrunners for the Norris Trophy, which is annually awarded to the league's best defensemen.
It also doesn't hurt that Makar is one of several offensive weapons that the Avalanche have to offer. After all, he plays alongside the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen.
