"It started when they had a winger on the wall, which teams usually don't do," Forsberg explained as the play began off a faceoff in the Edmonton zone. "As soon as the draw [occurred], he kind of took off out to his point, so it left a lot of room. I just tried to try to get it up and off quick, and it worked."
It sounds so simple, right?
"I've tried it out and had a couple close tries over the last couple seasons," Forsberg said. "I don't know where [the inspiration to try it] came from to start. I'm guessing me and my brother playing street hockey [growing up], and I'm sure he tried it, and I wanted to try it too."
Forsberg is one of just a few players in the League who have the skill to even give it a go, and the play brought about a collective "wow" from the Edmonton crowd at Rogers Place. It also signifies the way the game of hockey is evolving.
A decade or two back, if Forsberg or any other player would have attempted a play like that in a game, he might've been met with a cross check or punch to the face if a member of the opposition thought he was trying to "show up" his team. Instead, a move like this, while still potentially controversial, is now viewed as a tremendous display of skill, embraced by those who believe NHLers should do whatever it takes to put the puck in the net.
"I mean, it's a fine line, but it's changed a lot," Forsberg said. "I think a lot of players are trying to try and be creative. [Oilers Captain Connor] McDavid might be the one leading the charge the way he plays the game. I think it's great, but at the same time, it's not like you're just doing it for the show, you're trying to score a goal."
But the show sure is fun to watch.
"You don't see those come around too often," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. "Fil's a pretty skilled player, so it's pretty impressive."
