Greatest Moments of NHL Season ... So Far: first round, matchup 6

The 2019-20 NHL season had many incredible moments before it paused March 12 because of concerns surrounding the coronarvirus, and now fans can decide which one was the best.

The Greatest Moments of the NHL season … So Far
have been placed into a bracket of 64 entries, and fans will vote on one matchup per day, ultimately deciding the greatest moment up until this point.
Fans can vote on Twitter and Instagram each day from noon until 10 a.m. ET the next day. Each day, the winner of that matchup will be revealed, and a new set of moments will go head-to-head.
Though fans will have the ultimate say, two NHL.com staff members will weigh in on the matchup each day to give his or her opinion on which one should advance to the next round.
In the matchup Friday, defenseman Cale Makar setting the Colorado Avalanche record for goals by a rookie defeated a Minnesota Wild fan who was rewarded for her kindness.
The matchup Saturday pits Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson
helping honor
8-year-old Leighton Accardo on Hockey Fights Cancer Night against Connor McDavid's
spectacular play for a goal
against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

I've always listened to my heart, and in this case the story of how the Coyotes honored Leighton Accardo during Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Gila River Arena on Nov. 16 is the one that plucks my heartstrings. This is a no-brainer for me because the most deserving of the spotlight in this matchup is Leighton, a courageous young woman diagnosed with Stage 4 malignant germ cell tumors in May 2019. Not only did the Coyotes sign Leighton to a contract, but she skated in warmups, a remarkable feat since one of the tumors in her abdomen impacted her ability to lift her left foot or flex her toes. The Coyotes and Bauer got her a pair of skates with alterations so she could join the teams on the ice. She even took the ceremonial face-off against Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano while Ekman-Larsson dropped the puck. She told the team to "work hard and have fun" during her pregame address and allowed every player to rub her head for luck. It was a night anyone who watched won't forget, and a moment that deserves the opportunity to advance to the next round.

Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

The seeding committee didn't do McDavid any favors with this matchup, but his goal against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 6 should get plenty of consideration. Not only did the Edmonton center fake Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly out of his skates and leave goalie Michael Hutchinson wondering where the puck was, he impressed Wayne Gretzky. Yes, that Wayne Gretzky. "He brought me out of my seat," Gretzky told NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger after the game. "I've told him before that he does that to me. And he did that tonight." It's true that McDavid seemingly does something spectacular at least 2-3 times a month, but this goal in Edmonton's 6-4 win may have been his best of the year, and it certainly deserves to move to the next round.