Ranking the Top 10 NHL Goals of 2015

NHL fans enjoy all aspects of the game, but the highlight-reel goal has a special place. High speed, great dekes, quick release and rapid shots—all while on skates—gives the gorgeous goal great artistic value and a high degree of difficulty.

In 2015, the best goals were scored by the usual suspects and a new generation of impact scorers. Including only 10 goals from an entire calendar year is wildly unfair, but the quality is fantastic.

Here, in reverse order, are the 10 best goals in the NHL during 2015.

10. Jonathan Toews Stunning Overtime Winner

Date and Opponent: Saturday, October 24, versus the Tampa Bay Lightning

Goal: Jonathan Toews

Assists: Patrick Kane and Brent Seabrook

The Chicago Blackhawks were the beneficiaries of a brilliant goal from captain Jonathan Toews—his first of the 2015-16 season. Grabbing a pass after a bounce off the boards, he hit a seam at the blue line and found daylight between two Tampa Bay Lightning defenders. He made a great move against goalie Kristers Gudlevskis and won the game for Chicago.

9. Anze Kopitar on a Last-Chance Power Drive

Date and Opponent: Saturday, December 26 at Arizona Coyotes

Goal: Anze Kopitar 

Assists: Tyler Toffoli and Drew Doughty

The Los Angeles Kings won a Boxing Day game in overtime on a power move to the net by Anze Kopitar. After taking a pass from Toffoli, Kopitar made a strong move to the net and would not be denied. The goal shows how difficult the big center is to contain: His power and speed, combined with size, make him impossible to legally deny.

8. Morgan Rielly Goes Coast to Coast

Date and Opponent: Saturday, February 7 versus the Edmonton Oilers 

Goal: Morgan Rielly

Assists: None

Morgan Rielly put on an exceptional display of skill against the Edmonton Oilers. Winning a loose puck in his own zone, he deftly avoided opponents and found open ice and the neutral zone. Gaining the blue line, he waited until the right moment, made a strong move around the Oilers defender and went top shelf on Viktor Fasth. It was a brilliant individual move by a defenseman, making the feat even more impressive.

7. Duncan Keith Scores the Winner in the Deciding Game of the Finals

Date and Opponent: Monday, June 15 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning

Goal: Duncan Keith 

Assists: Patrick Kane and Brad Richards

The Chicago Blackhawks didn't know it at the time, and there was plenty of work left, but Duncan Keith's goal late in the second period of Game 6 clinched the Stanley Cup.

The first key to the goal was a soft pass from Patrick Kane, cradled by Keith and then shot toward goal. The second key came from Keith, a two-way defender with excellent offensive instincts. He drove to the net looking for a rebound, got it and cashed in silver and a Stanley Cup victory. 

6. Taylor Hall Beats the Rangers on '80s Night in Edmonton

Date and Opponent: Friday, December 11 versus the New York Rangers

Goal: Taylor Hall

Assists: Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell

The Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers honored Glen Sather this night, and then the teams went out and turned back the clock with a wild, high-scoring affair.

The winning goal was scored by Taylor Hall, but the key to the play was young center Leon Draisaitl. A deft chip at the Rangers blue line allowed Draisaitl to control the play. He sent a pass to Hall, who cashed in right after New York scored to tie it. Bedlam and heartbreak on a Friday night in Edmonton.

5. Bobby Ryan Picks Pockets Against the Detroit Red Wings

Date and Opponent: Monday, November 16 versus the Detroit Red Wings

Goal: Bobby Ryan

Assists: Mike Hoffman and Cody Ceci

The Ottawa Senators tied the game on a brilliant pick-pocket move by Bobby Ryan in November. Cody Ceci got the puck into the neutral zone and Mike Hoffman chipped it into the Detroit end on a bounce. It was a low-percentage play that would have died if not for Ryan. He lifted the stick of Luke Glendening, made a line for the net and deked goaltender Jimmy Howard out of his skates for a brilliant goal.

4. Alex Ovechkin's Outstanding Toe Drag

Date and Opponent: Saturday, October 10 versus New Jersey Devils 

Goal: Alex Ovechkin

Assists: Matt Niskanen

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is the most exciting goal scorer of his generation, and in 2015-16, his first goal ignited the season across the league. The goal started in traditional fashion, with the big winger streaking down the left side and into the New Jersey zone. He walked around defender John Moore in a heartbeat with a devastating toe-drag and then went shelf. No one had a chance.

3. Vladimir Tarasenko's Patented Move

Date and Opponent: Wednesday, April 22 2015 at Minnesota Wild 

Goal: Vladimir Tarasenko

Assists: None

Vladimir Tarasenko repeated his fantastic deke at Madison Square Garden in November 2014 on a bigger stage in April 2015.

During the St. Louis Blues' playoff series with the Wild, Tarasenko was sent away on a breakaway. He bore down on the goalie with great speed, and then slid the puck on his backhand to the right side as Devan Dubnyk committed to Tarasenko's original deke to the left. With only Tarasenko's stick to guide the puck home, it was more magic than might and a beautiful goal.

2. Patrick Kane Goes Shelf, Extends Scoring Streak

Date and Opponent: Friday December 11, versus the Winnipeg Jets

Goal: Patrick Kane

Assists: Teuvo Teravainen and David Rundblad

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks is the most dangerous player in the NHL this season. His ridiculous skill was on full display for this goal, with precision timing and perfect placement key elements. The give-and-go with Teravainen gave Kane a better look, but the shot was perfect, unstoppable. There are few men in the game today who can consistently score this kind of goal.

The tally extended Kane's point-scoring streak to 25 games.

1. Evgeni Malkin Performs Actual Robbery

Date and Opponent: Saturday, November 28, versus the Edmonton Oilers

Goal: Evgeni Malkin

Assists: None

Big Evgeni Malkin scored the goal of the year against the Edmonton Oilers in late November. Young Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom carried the puck out of his zone and into neutral ice, not noticing the powerful Malkin stealthily lurking behind him. The big Russian grabbed the puck, wheeled into the Edmonton zone and executed a perfect spin-o-rama and cashed in with a fabulous shot. A breathtaking goal from one of the NHL's best players.