Wednesday, December 08, 2021

X, Y & Z (in reverse) UPDATED

Z: "The Magic of Trevor Zegras"

The hockey world—and much of the sports world—is literally buzzing about Trevor Zegras’ latest burst of creativity leading to a goal. Inventing a twist on The Michigan lacrosse move, the Anaheim rookie controlled a puck behind the Buffalo net, lifted it with his stick and flipped it over the net and over goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s shoulder to (almost-BC Eagle) Sonny Milano who batted it out the air and into the net. The goal proved the game-winner in the 2-0 Ducks’ victory.

The slight of hand-and-puck move absolutely ignited ESPN’s John Buccigross.


And from the photo above, the former Terrier seemed genuinely shocked that it worked.

What will this move be called: The Michigan Pass? The Alley Oop? ESPN’s Kevin Weekes says: "This is called "The BU" 'cause he played his college hockey at BU for the Terriers."


The Athletic:

“Oh, look at this! OH, MY GOODNESS! WHAT A GOAL!” screamed ESPN play-by-play announcer John Buccigross what became a 2-0 Anaheim victory Tuesday night at KeyBank Center.

“Look at him. He’s like, ‘I can’t believe it actually worked!'” yelped Ryan Callahan, a former NHL forward and the analyst on the telecast.

When they embraced after teaming up to produce a leading candidate for goal of the year, Milano said Zegras didn’t make a sound. It looked that way. Zegras, the Ducks’ increasingly wondrous rookie, brought his hands to his head in stunned silence, unable to believe his trick play actually worked.

“He was in shock,” Milano said. “I was in shock. Actually, not really. I kind of expected it from him — zero shock.”

Added Zegras: “I was sold on the pass. Once I heard him yell ‘Michigan!’ to me, I kind of wanted to get it to him. I still can’t believe it worked. I think it’s pretty funny. I tried it a couple times and haven’t even come close. For him to whack it out of the air and keep it under the crossbar is pretty incredible.”

“I thought he was going to do it automatically,” Milano added. “Because usually whenever he’s behind the net, he tries it. So, I was waiting for him to do it. He ended up listening to me.”

“I don’t think you know what he’s going to do, but you know that he can always find you,” Kevin Shattenkirk said. “And I think that’s kind of what we’re starting to see more and more out of him. He’s getting comfortable with the puck and with the game and how teams play defense and the speed of the game.

“And now that I think he’s getting some reps in and some games in … when you’re joining the rush with him or whatever it might be, even if he might not be looking at you, I think he’s fully capable of finding you with passes.”

Eric Stephens, Ducks beat writer:

I don’t know if I’ve seen a better one in person. There have been amazing highlights I’ve repeatedly watched over the years — what comes to my mind right away are the ridiculous Alex Ovechkin sprawling on-his-back, upside-down 2006 score and pretty much any Connor McDavid 1-on-4 slice through a bunch of NHLers in futile defense.

But I can safely say that it is the most inventive pass to set up a score that I’ve seen live. The thing with Zegras now is it’s becoming common to expect the unexpected.

● USA Today Zegras’ alley-oop pass for one of the best goals

● NHL.com Zegras, fans react

● ESPN Best Thing I Saw Today 

● Orange County Register  Zegras, Milano make a play that gets the whole world clicking

 

Y: Yip headed to the Olympics 

With the IOC's decision to award China a spot in the Olympic hockey competition as the host team of the 2022 Beijing games, former Terrier Brandon Yip is poised to become the latest Terrier to perform in the Olympics, according to the South China Morning Post.

Yip is currently the second leading scorer for China-based Kunlun Red of the KHL. It's the second tour of duty with Kunlun for the right-wing who headed overseas following six seasons in the NHL and AHL. In 174 games with Colorado, Nashville and Arizona, he scored 29 goals and 27 assists, with his best season producing a 12-10-22 line for the Avs.

The Morning Post writes: 

As a free agent, with the ambition to follow his Chinese origins and represent at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Yip left Germany and signed a contract with Chinese club, HC Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on June 5, 2017.

Serving as team captain in two of his three seasons with Kunlun, Yip was left un-signed leading into the pandemic affected 2020–21 season. On January 9, 2021, he was belatedly signed to join Finnish club, Mikkelin Jukurit of the Liiga, for the remainder of the season.[19] He made 15 regular season appearances, recording 2 goals and 6 points, in his short tenure in the Liiga.

As a free agent heading into an Olympic year and with ambitions to appear with the Chinese national team, Yip returned to former club, Kunlun Red Star of the KHL on a one-year deal on July 26, 2021.

In four seasons as a Terrier, Yip scored 108 points including a 20-23-43 senior season as a key cog in BU's fifth national championship. 

The Maple Ridge, B.C., native was Hockey East's Rookie of the Year in 2005-06 and scored the game-winning goal in both the 2006 (video) and 2009 (video) conference championship games--the only player to do so twice. 

Two of Yip's Kunlun Red teammates are also likely to be named to the Chinese roster: brothers Spencer and Parker Foo who played for Union College and faced the Terriers.

Yip would be the first Terrier to represent a country other than the U.S. in the Olympics since Adrian Aucoin won silver with Canada in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway.

X: Three-point night for eX-Terrier Dante Fabbro  

(yeah, that's a stretch but there are no Terriers with a first or last name beginning with X)

Dante Fabbro's 200-foot shot into an empty net was his first goal of the season and sealed the Predators' 5-2 win against Detroit. With two assists earlier in the contest, Fabbro had his first 3-point game in the NHL.

● NHL.com Smashville Scope: Fabbro's Evolution





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