NHL: 15 Most Amazing Goals of the 2011-2012 Season

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While the 2011-2012 NHL season had its fair share of spectacular moments, not many actions can bring fans to their feet like a wild, mind-blowing move or shot that results in a goal.

Certain players have the ability to shock viewers with their playing ability, delivering highlights like the 15 included in this countdown.

More than 6,700 goals were scored in the NHL last season. Here are the most amazing ones.

15. Matt Duchene vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

This one looks better than it probably really was.

It appears Duchene was simply handling the pass, not deking, when he received the puck at a strange angle.

Still a good piece of stickwork.

14. Derek Morris vs. Los Angeles Kings

A super-slow-motion replay later showed the puck slightly curving while in flight.

Jonathan Quick would win the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP, showing just how amazing it was that this shot went in.

13. Benoit Pouliot vs. Florida Panthers

Announcer Jack Edwards losing his mind was actually an accurate reaction for once.

12. Lars Eller vs. Winnipeg Jets

After scoring a hat trick, Eller needed something special to keep the excitement up.

11. Tyler Ennis vs. Montreal Canadiens

Ennis made Andrei Markov look like a defenseman who missed more than a year of playing time before making Peter Budaj look like a backup goalie.

10. Claude Giroux vs. Boston Bruins

Zdeno Chara won a James Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman. Tim Thomas won two Vezina Trophies as the NHL's best goalie.

Giroux made them both look silly here.

9. Evgeni Malkin vs. New York Islanders

It's really Malkin's initial shot fake that gets him the goal here. It looks like Rick DiPietro anticipates a switch to the backhand, shown by his poke check attempt.

However, Malkin pulled it back to his forehand and was lucky enough to get it through the only space on the ice.

8. Ryan Callahan vs. San Jose

Callahan was well-covered and had an awful angle, but still got the puck in the net.

7. Marian Hossa vs. Anaheim Ducks

It was really Patrick Kane's setup that made this one amazing, but Hossa gets credit for tipping it in.

6. Pavel Datsyuk vs. St. Louis Blues

Datsyuk's puck-handling abilities are so advanced that he gets by defensemen before he even finishes his dekes.

The shot here was also incredible.

5. Claude Giroux vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Giroux called this move "The Datsyuk."

4. Matt Duchene vs. Dallas Stars

Three defenders and a goalie between him and the net? No problem for Duchene.

3. Patrick Kane vs. Minnesota Wild

That's not even fair.

2. Evgeni Malkin vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay needed to address both defense and goaltending heading into this offseason.

Hart Memorial Trophy winner Malkin made them all look like cardboard cutouts of hockey players instead of professionals by taking this one all the way in by himself.

1. Jamie Benn vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Jamie Benn silenced a wild Columbus crowd with this "I'll do it all myself" approach.

Whereas Malkin had the advantage of speed on his side, Benn's ever-so-harmless entry into the offensive zone made this goal incredible. There is no way he should have been able to get to where he did here.

Benn got by four opponents and sniped it passed the goalie and off the post, just in case it didn't look good enough already.

 

Jason Sapunka covers the NHL and is available on Twitter for day-to-day updates, analysis and commentary.

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