Greatest Moments of NHL Season … So Far: third round, matchup 7

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

The Greatest Moments of the NHL Season … So Far is down to 16 entries from the original bracket of 64 with the first two rounds now complete. 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 staffers will weigh in on the matchup each day to give his or her opinion on which one should advance to the fourth round.

In the matchup Saturday, Blake Coleman's one-handed goal for the New Jersey Devils defeated Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals passing Mario Lemieux on the all-time goals list.

The matchup Sunday has Detroit Red Wings fans stepping up to sing the Canada national anthem Jan. 7 going against Carolina Hurricanes emergency backup goalie David Ayres making eight saves in a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 22.

Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Detroit fans came through when needed most by assisting longtime Red Wings anthem singer Karen Newman sing "O Canada" after technical difficulties caused the microphone to cut out at Little Caesars Arena. Newman was performing before the game against the Montreal Canadiens when the glitch occurred, and social media reacted positively, offering the fans a show of support, with one user calling the move a "class act." The Red Wings rewarded their fans with a 4-3 win after Filip Zadina scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:52 remaining in the third period.

Tom Gulitti, staff writer

Ayres fulfilled a lifelong dream and became one of the biggest stories of the season when he was forced into action as the emergency backup goalie for Carolina in a 6-3 victory against Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. A 42-year-old former ice resurfacing machine driver and kidney transplant recipient, Ayres sometimes practices with the Maple Leafs and knows some of their players well. But he was understandably nervous after Hurricanes goalies James Reimer and Petr Mrazek each was injured, leaving him to protect a 3-1 lead with 8:41 remaining in the second period. After Carolina scored to extend its lead to 4-1, Ayres allowed a goal on each of the first two shots he faced. With their lead trimmed to 4-3, the Hurricanes pulled together to limit Maple Leafs scoring chances, and Ayres made the save on the final eight shots he faced to become the oldest goalie to win his NHL debut and the first EBUG to win an NHL game.