canucksfan said:
I did one of these months ago and here's my list from it.
1. Paul Henderson 1972 Game 8 of the Summit Series. A great play by Esposito to get the puck to the net. Henderson did the rest even though he missed his first chance. The amazing thing was there was only 34 seconds left in the game.
2. Mario's goal in the 1987 Canada Cup Game 3. Similar to the Henderson but this time there was only 1:30 left to go in the game. 3on1 and a great shot my Mario.
3. Paul Henderson Game 7 of the Summit Series. With over three seconds left Henderson dekes passed the Soviet defenceman and goes top corner. It was a amazing goal and without it his goal in game 8 would have been meaningless.
4. Mario's goal in game two of the 1987 Canada Cup. It was double overtime. Both teams were going end to end and both goalies were playing great. Similar to the Henderson goal in that without it Mario's goal in game three wouldn't have happened.
5. Canada Cup 1976 Game 2. Canada won the first game 5-0 against the Czechs. The second game was closer. Bill Barber scored a late third period goal to send it into overtime. Darryl Sittler got a break down the left hand side, he faked the shot and put it passed the Czech goalie.
6. Mike Bossy 1984 Canada Cup, the semi final game against the Soviets. The Soviets has beaten the Canadians bad in the 1981 Canada Cup 8-1. Canada was looking for revenge. This team started off slow. It was 2-2 I believe in overtime. Paul Coffey makes a great defensive play to break up a two on one and he takes it into the Soviet's zone and Bossy tips Coffey's shot. Canada beats Sweden in the final to win the Canada Cup.
7. Peter Mahovlich Game 2 of the Summit Series. Canada was leading 2-1 and they were killing a penatly. Mahovlich takes the puck up the ice he faked the shot went around the Soviet defenceman and he made an incredible move on Tretiak.
8. Vincent Lecavailer 2004 World Cup Semi Final. Canada was outplayed in this game. After getting one goal leads the Czechs would come right back and score. The game went into overtime and after a great save by Luongo, Vincent gets the puck in front of the net and goes top corner.
9. John Slaney 1991 World Juniors. Canada had to beat a Russian team that had Moginly Fedorov and Bure. If they tied the game the Russians would get gold. It was 2-2 and in the third period Slaney gets the puck at the point and blasts it passed the Russian goaltender.
10. Anson Carter 2003 World Championship. Canada was trailing 2-0 early to Sweden. Canada quickly tied it by goals by Horcoff and I forget the other player( I think it was Morrow). The game went into overtime and Anson Carter went around the net and wrapped the puck in the net.
Great list. The Slaney goal has long been one of my all-time favourites. Very underrated in Canadian hockey circles. I'm a huge fan of the old Canada vs. USSR hockey rivalries (there isn't a better international rivalry involving a North American team) and to me, that was the last epic Canada vs. USSR battle. (USSR broke apart less than 12 months later). The game meant a lot, too. Canada needed to win to strike gold for the second straight year (for the first time ever). A tie and they win bronze. If they lose, there was a chance they wouldn't medal. So many possibilities. The game delivered, with plenty of drama and emotion, brilliant plays and great goaltending. Greatest game in WJC history.
Henderson in 1972 has to be No. 1. The fitting end for the most intense, most important and most endearing hockey series ever. His goal in Game 7 was prettier, but his goal in Game 8 will likely go down as the most legendary goal in hockey history. Lemieux in Game 3 in 1987 is No. 2.