Ranking the Top 10 NHL Goals of 2014

As 2014 draws to a close, it's the perfect opportunity to review some of the most stunning scoring plays of the year.

From January to December, we've seen some beauties—and a few crazy plays along the way as well.

One fluke and nine dazzling displays of skill: These are our Top 10 NHL goals of the year.

10. Yannick Weber: Vancouver Canucks

The Situation: December 20 vs. Calgary Flames

The Goal: This goal's a cautionary tale for teams who choose to put an extra attacker on the ice during a delayed penalty call.

Winless in five games coming into their matchup against Calgary, the Vancouver Canucks caught an early break when the Flames deflected the puck 200 feet into their own empty net during a delayed call against Luca Sbisa at the 4:40 mark of the first period. Goaltender Jonas Hiller had long since departed for the bench.

As the last Canuck to touch the puck before the miscue, Weber was awarded his second goal of the season as Vancouver went up 1-0, then successfully killed Sbisa's penalty.

The Impact: The Canucks were able to parlay their good fortune into a 3-2 overtime slump-buster, then add a 7-1 win over Arizona to get back on the winning track before the Christmas break.

9. Jiri Sekac: Montreal Canadiens

The Situation: December 12 vs. Los Angeles Kings goaltender Martin Jones

The Goal: Super-skilled Sekac appears to ape a spin-o-rama move by Gustav Nyquist that we'll see later in this countdown, roofing the puck over Martin Jones to score his second of the night and the final goal of the game as the Canadiens beat the defending Stanley Cup champions by a score of 6-2.

The Impact: With six goals and 13 points so far in his rookie season, Sekac hasn't scored again in five games since his dazzler against Los Angeles. The talented Czech has shown enough in his rookie season that we can expect his next great goal to pop up very soon.

8. Radim Vrbata: Vancouver Canucks

The Situation: December 7 vs. Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson

The Goal: Radim Vrbata opened the scoring midway through the first period with this patient goal—slipping past defenseman Chris Phillips before tucking the puck behind an over-committed Anderson.

The Canucks would build a 3-0 lead before going on to lose the game 4-3 in a shootout. 

The Impact: The goal was Vrbata's 12th of 13 he's scored so far this season. Along with his 12 assists, playing with Vancouver's talented Sedin twins has the 33-year-old on track for a career-best 63 points in 2014-15.

7. Ales Hemsky: Ottawa Senators

The Situation: March 20 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop

The Goal: Hemsky went on a tear after being moved from the Edmonton Oilers to the Ottawa Senators at the 2014 trade deadline and this goal was his prettiest. After sliding the puck between his legs to get past defenseman Radko Gudas, Hemsky dekes Matt Carle before undressing a helpless Bishop.

The goal drew the Senators even at 3-3 late in the second period, but they'd go on to lose the game 5-4.

The Impact: The goal was Hemsky's 11th of the season and second of four as a Senator. After showing great chemistry with Jason Spezza while putting up 17 points in 20 games in Ottawa, Hemsky would parlay his efforts into a three-year, $12 million free-agent contract with the Dallas Stars.

6. Bobby Ryan: Ottawa Senators

The Situation: December 11 vs. Los Angeles Kings' Jonathan Quick 

The Goal: Though Bobby Ryan hasn't scored as easily as he once did since joining the Ottawa Senators, this beautiful goal reminds us of the high-level skill he can tap into when the time is right.

The goal came during the debut of new Senators' coach Dave Cameron after Paul McLean was dismissed. Late in the first period, it narrowed the Kings' lead to 2-1 but Ottawa ultimately fell 5-3.

The Impact: The goal was Ryan's sixth of seven so far in 2014-15. He's in the mix with the Senators' top scorers, but the team hasn't lived up to expectations considering his pedigree.

5. Tyler Ennis: Buffalo Sabres

The Situation: November 28 vs. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.

The Goal: Though the Buffalo Sabres' season got off to a terrible start, this goal is one piece of a surge that has seen the team climb 10 points out of the NHL cellar—and 11 points away from a wild-card playoff spot.

After winning three of four games before meeting the powerful Montreal Canadiens, Ennis' dazzler was the first goal in a 2-1 win. Buffalo went on to beat the Habs again the following night at the Bell Centre and has posted a respectable 6-5-1 record so far in the month of December.

The Impact: The shifty Ennis leads the Sabres with 23 points and is on pace for a career-best season of 61 points.

4. Nathan Gerbe: Carolina Hurricanes

The Situation: January 22 v. Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Steve Mason

The Goal: Chalk up another one for the little guys.

After blowing past defenseman Luke Schenn as if he was standing still, 5'5" Gerbe pulls the puck backwards between his legs, then tucks it past a startled Steve Mason.

The second-period goal gave the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead, on their way to a 3-2 win.

The Impact: The goal was Gerbe's 10th of the season. He would go on to tie his career-best with 16 goals and 31 points in the 2013-14 campaign.

3. Gustav Nyqist: Detroit Red Wings

The Situation: March 30 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop

The Goal: With the game tied 1-1 late in the second period, Gustav Nyquist showed how a true goal scorer never gives up on a play. Breaking down the ice with defenseman Matt Carle hooking him the whole way, Nyquist stuck with the play to get a shot on goal, then spun to scoop up the rebound on the goal line and bank it in off Bishop.

The Red Wings would go on to win the game 3-2.

The Impact: The goal was Nyquist's 27th of the season and would come as part of his incredible late-March run when he scored 11 goals in just nine games.

Nyquist's offensive surge helped the Red Wings squeak into the second wild card spot in the 2013-14 Eastern Conference standings and reach the playoffs for a 23rd consecutive season.

2. Vladimir Tarasenko: St. Louis Blues

The Situation: November 3 vs. New York Rangers goaltender Cam Talbot

The Goal: After Rangers defenseman Matt Hunwick was sent to the penalty box for interfering with Tarasenko at the 5:57 mark of the second period, the shifty Russian responded with this stunning power-play goal, tying the game at one.

Tarasenko would add a third-period assist, then score the shootout winner to give the St. Louis Blues the 4-3 win.

The Impact: The goal was Tarasenko's seventh of the season. Coming out of the Christmas break, he's third in the league with 21—already tied with his career high from last season.

Tarasenko has been a breakout star in 2014-15.

1. Alex Ovechkin: Washington Capitals

The Situation: December 20 vs. New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider

The Goal: A sweet backhand past Schneider while falling, after deking sophomore Devils defenseman Jon Merrill out of his skates. Ovi has scored a lot of spectacular goals in his career, and this is one of the best.

The goal was Washington's third in its 4-0 shutout of New Jersey, and part of the Caps' nine-game December point streak.

The Impact: With just 16 goals coming out of the Christmas break, Ovechkin's scoring rate has been less-than-torrid in the first half. But he tends to be a streaky player, and the Caps are finding their groove under new coach Barry Trotz.

Expect to see more showstoppers from Ovechkin in 2015.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com, current through December 27.