My Top 10 favorite goals - # 4

This is a no-brainer - June 10, 1996. I know you are thinking that ranking seems low. While this goal did come at the end of an amazing - previously scoreless - triple-overtime game, it was a bit anti-climactic. By that I mean that the AVS had a 3-0 game lead in the series and it was clear that they were the much better team. Winning The Cup was inevitable, and some of us - especially people like me who had game 5 tickets - were sort of hoping for the win on home ice.Nevertheless.....the AVS had pressure and were buzzing the net. Florida tried a weak clear up the boards that was knocked down by Uwe Krupp. And as much as I was always lukewarm on Krupp and his game, he did what you should always do in O.T. - he put the puck on net. Of course, I don't need to tell you who had the screen on the Beezer - as the picture indicates.

And so it was, Denver had it's first major championship. All of us Avalanche fans (and ticket holders) had a reason to celebrate. As a hockey fan, this is one of those special moments you live for.

My Top 10 favorite goals - # 5

So, many people know that my all-time favorite AVS player was # 18, Adam Deadmarsh. I was also a big fan of defenseman Aaron Miller. When we learned about the trade with Los Angeles, I went to "The Gas-N-Sip" to watch the upcoming press conference.

I was thrilled - since we knew beforehand - that the AVS were adding Rob Blake to upgrade the team. I knew the price would not be cheap, but I was crushed when I heard Deader and Millsy (typical hockey originality) were going to LA. When the AVS eliminated the Kings on their way to the Stanley Cup it was tough to watch the handshake line as all the AVS hugged their two former teammates. But on to brighter moments. In the first round of the playoffs, the Kings knocked off the hated Detroit Red Wings. Early in the series Miller broke Brendan Shanahan's foot with a slap shot - an important point of the series. But not as pivotal as the role Adam Deadmarsh would play. Down 2-1 in the series to the Wings Deadly had the first assist on the game winning goal in game 4 and the game winner in games 5 and game 6 - and what a celebration.

My Top 10 favorite goals - # 6

The comeback vs. Duluth - 2004 Frozen Four.

As you may know, although not really my style of player, Lukas Dora was always one of my favorite DU Pioneers. Yes, the # 13 probably helped. He was a very good college hockey player with an extra nasty streak. To call him a pest would be an understatement.

Some of us took Thursday April 8, 2004 off from work to go watch the game - E5 was in attendance after his pseudo-concussion (sorry E) - and The Shot Pimp called us from Ohio and forced us to do shots after DU goals.

The game started poorly for the Pios and they were down 3-2 going to the 3rd period. Defenseman and Captain, Ryan Caldwell, got the game tying goal on a break-away early in the 3rd period. Caldwell was another favorite as he struck me as that no-nonsense type captain. Oddly, at the awards ceremony that year, coach Gwozdecky said that season was the first season Caldwell had ever donned the "C". Earlier in the year during a captains / senior skate, he got into a fight and punched out his friend and roommate. He just had that "all business" approach you love.

So anyway, the stage was set and our guy Dora got the game winner later in the 3rd. DU added an empty netter to win 5-3. But Dora's goal - while not a thing of beauty - was an awesome lamp-lighter that had us jumping out of our chairs. Even greater was his show of emotion that you can see in the bottom picture - one of the reasons I always loved the guy.

DU went on to the Finals...but you can read about that at a later date....

My Top 10 favorite goals - # 7

I am actually old enough to have watched the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team on television. Being a 12-year-old hockey fan, I watched every game.

As you may remember - or have seen in the movie Miracle - the first game vs. Sweden was an important game. A loss would have really hurt the teams chances of advancing to the medal round and Al Michaels really highlighted the importance of that fact during the live telecast. So, down 2-1 with less than one minute left, Bill Baker was on the ice for pulled goaltender, Jim Craig, and scored the tying goal on a long slapshot.

I was ecstatic to watch USA tie the game. And while there were many great players and stories in 1980, I really appreciated the importance of the goal being noted in "Miracle" - the best hockey movie of all time!

My Top 10 favorite goals - # 8

As most of you are aware, I have always liked goal scorers. I especially love the snipers. Ergo, Milan Hejduk has always been a big favorite of mine. I have also admired his low-key way he usually celebrates a goal.

That is why this goal is such a bonanza and so out of character. An absolute beauty to curl inside of the D-Man and rifle a playoff overtime game-winner past Marty Turco.

I have heard that the translation of his name in Czech is more like hedge-duck. I wonder if the second part of that alleged phonetic translation played into this. Bob Hartley said "He has magical hands" but I guess he can dance a little as well!

http://www.youtube.com/watch

v=p7FjshFJZ24&mode=related&search

Youtube link also in the title.

My Top 10 favorite goals - # 9

Sorry, but you knew this one was coming. As former Bruin and current Avalanche analyst Peter McNab says "I don't care what level player they are, they all remember their first goal!"

So yeah, it was my first - also the first goal in Steamer history - 09/29/02 on a 2-on-1, a one-timer on a pass from Gordon.

Go figure!

My Top 10 favorite goals - # 10

I guess I always hated the Dallas Stars because they knocked the AVS out of the playoffs by playing chippy hockey. The Richard Matvichuk cheap shot on Milan Hejduk separated his shoulder and knocked him out of the playoffs one year and that seemed to be the difference in the series.

Plus, they had Ed Belfour ans Derrian Hatcher - who I always hated. Dallas also had that sickening Cup win over Buffalo where the league - and super turd-burglar Gary Bettman - blatantly disregarded Brett Hull's skate being in the crease for the cup winner. What a joke.

For some other reason I always liked the Devils. Maybe it was partly that they used to be the Colorado Rockies. Mainly it was my appreciation of Scott Steven's toughness and Scott Niedermayer's composure and hockey sense.

So, my # 10 occurred in June of 2000 when Jason Arnott scored to beat Stars and win the cup. I jumped up off of my couch in celebration and was surprised at how ecstatic I was. A great way to end it!